New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
TO STUDY PLANET MARS
Professor TOdd's Expedition to
South america.

Professor David Todd, OF Amherst College. will
sail for South America May II at the head Of
an expedition 20 study the opposition of the planet
Mars. The trip will be taken under the name Of
the Lowell expedition. and is sent out by Professor
Percival Lowell. owner and director of the OBJ
servatory at Flagstaff. Ariz.. and professor OF
astronomy at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech
nology. The position OF Mars this summer will be
nearer the earth than has been the for fifteen
years. For this reason elaborate preparations are
being made for study of this Interesting member
Of the armament Observations Of the planet
be made with much better results in the southern
hemisphere, owing 10 the fact that viewed from
there. it is in the zenith. Photographs will be
taken OF the canals and all other markings OF at
tendant interest for the observation.
Professor Lowell. who Is sending out the expedi-
ticn, is the leading authority Mars in this coun-
try, and is surpassed abroad only by SchappareI
OF Italy. Mr.. Lowell is already beginning to OBJ
serve Mars which is growing clearer. at his OBJ
servatory in Arizona. South America. however
will afford much better conditions for observing
the opposition. and so a trip has been arranged
Professor Todd VIII establish himself in The high
Andes where Mars is nearly overhead Here the
vibrations. clouds and tremors which the bane
OF the astronomer observing at the sea level are
entirely absent. In the high mountains the air will
he clearer we'll steadier. The best observa-
tions Will he made IN July. when the planet is At
the least distance from the earth. Observations
Will be made all through the month. ana the sue
length or time that the expedition will remain.
Professor Todd Will have entire charge Of the
expedition and will plant his observing apparatus
at the place which is best in his judgment. The
situation chosen VIII be somewhere in Peru or
Chilli In selecting the station experiments will
be made at Oruro. Puno Lake Tlticaca Oroya
and prehaps Quito IN order to ascertain the best
qualities atmosphere in steadiness and clarity.
Tho annular eclipse OF the sun; which occurs july
u. viii be observed well In this eclipse the
sun appears with ring surrounding II ana I'll Is 5
always OF much interest 10 astronomers me
observations Of precision Will be sent TO PROFESSOR
Simon Newcomb at Washington who viii use mem mem
in perfecting his researches on lhe ilollou OF te
moon, which he is preparing for the Carnegie
Institution This eclipse will last SIX minutes ana
a half The automatic phOtogTaphing inStrument Us
used In previous trips will be taken TO observe the
phenomenon. Professor Neweonlb desires as many
observations as possible of the formation and dis
ruptton of the ring, and endeaVoTs viii be made
to secure the best possible results
Professor Todd was in Washington last month
Sertal<en ken by CeDerai Edwards John Barrett Fro
penipotentiary OF Peru Chill and Bolivia IN oruer
that the affair may pass or IN me smoothesI s dll
Todd letters 10 the Panama Commission auording
him facilities for making as thorough a study OF
while on the way to South America viii permit
The expedition will sail from New 1 oTk Ed4 34 me me
author Of many interesting articles on observation
eXpeditons will accompany Professor ! lodd r. ' e
expedition as expert pnotpsIia LIN tLe y1sc
Alvan Clark & Sons, Cambridge. VIII ne the iueCli-
beinas buiit hv (iaerner OF Chicago. especially for
the expedition. This will be taken primarily 10 en-
large and photograph images OF Mars l1ndeaNoIS 5
viii be made to find what the canals really are and
TO take look at the polar caps -, ~,
fessor Todd since 1878. II is the first one made
especially To study the planet Mars. Most OF the
one exreptionav good observation of the transit OF
Venus was made hy him at the Lick Observatory.