The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-07-31

The other day the planet Mars and
the earth were, in astronomical Ian.
guage, Sin opposition and there was
consequently widespread stir among
students of the heavens, because Of
teh rare opportunity which is thus at.
forded Of an examination, under favor,
able conditions, Of planet that has
for some years attracted, in peculiar
degree, Tie attention Of astronomers
and the curiosity Of all intelligent hum
an beings.
We know more Of Mars than Of any
other celestial body, with the exception
of the moon; and the moon is usually
regarded as q dead, or practically dead
world. Mars, on the other hand, seems
to be world like our own earth, with
atmosphere, lcouds and seasonal changes
It has accordingly been long believed
that Mars Is more likely TO be inhabited
by rational beings like ourselves thar
any other world; and hence the popular
interest which ii arouses. AT every OPP
position Of the planet-Bhen the disc 81
Mars is fully iilumined its surface Ii
scaned with eager interest by astron-
omers like SchiaParelli and Lowell, who
devote themselves especially to ths
study of the red planet
The present opposition of the planet
on July g, is the most favorable for tbs
past thirteen years. The most favorable
oppositions take place near to August
. 40 4 al
approach most closely at the position
which the earth occupies at that date
The present opposition, it viii be seen
Is of the favorable class, although moi
so favorable as that due in September
1909. 1t happens that, so far as Eng
land and Scotland are concerned, the
present opposition is not favorable
one, for at London the planet is only
ten degrees above the horizon, and Al
Edinburgh only six. SO that astronom.
ers in the United Kingdom must leave
the study of the fascinating planet tC
their more fortunate brethren In south
ern Europe and the United States. whC
are farther south and live under more
favorable atmospheric conditions.
Popular interest has Of late centred
round the mysterious features on th,
planets surface known as canals.
Mars had been studied for many years
before tile canals were noticed. Tn,
reddish-ochre regions, the blue green re-
gions mind the polar caps had beer
mapped out and named, when, in 1877
the canals revealed themselves TO Pro
fessor Schiaparelli Of Milan While ex
ecutinc a survey Of the planets disc
Sehiapareli was amazed TO find thai
reddish.ochrc portions were traversel
by a number OF straight dark lines. Id
named these canal, an Italian wore
meaning channels or canals. IN 1875
he discovered that some Of the canals
had become double, and in 1881 he in
creased the number OF known canals By
fresh discoveries Professor Lowell re
marks that "Schiaparell had the mis-
fortune to be ahead Of his time. ant
the yet greater misfortune 10 remain
so.'
The discovery was disbelieved, Just
as the discovery Of the satellites Of
Jupiter were ridiculed BY the scientist.
Of the time; and it was not until 1886
when .Perr0tin of Nice observed the ca
nails that the skepticism Of the wort
oil science as TO their reality was dis
PEELED.
ehiaparelli informed the writer lately
that he was compelled to give up the
study Of Mars as long ago as 1890, ow-
ing to failing sight; but since then The
canals have been seen and studied by
many astronomers Of note, including Mr.
Denuing in Englandi MN Flammarion
Antoniadi and Perrotin in France; Sig.
nor Cerulli in Italyj and Professors
Lowell and W. H. Pickering IN Amer
lea. Among these Professor Lowell DC.
eupes the chief place. In 1894 he erect
ed an observatory at Flagstaff, Arizona
for the purpose Of studying Mars IN
clear and steady air; and since that
time every opposition has found Pro
fess0r Lowell and his little band OF as.
sistants ne work at Flagstaff. Two
large treatises on the planet, and three
volumes Of "I,owell Observatory An
nails, testify to the mdefatigable per
severance and cneGy OF Professor Low
ell in his quest for truth regarding ou
neiqhboring world.
Many theories have been propounded
Ia account for the canals but utterly
only two have bocn before the public
those 81 SignOr Cerulli and Professor
Lowell respectively Signor Ccrull re.
aarda The canals az optical illusions
caused by the action Of the eye ii
shaping dots Of light and shade into
regular forms. Professor Lowell on The
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