Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-02-16
THE PLANETS
Latest information R1Iardins condi
tions On These Heavenly Bodies.

Whether life as human earth dwell
'rs conceive it exists On the planets is
a question on which NAM eminent as
tronomers have pronounced various
opinions. Now comes a noted 2ooleg-
list. Professor Edmond Perrier. mem
ler ~ the French Academy Of Sci
Cnce> and director OF the Physical In
Stitate III Paris who answers III L
distinct affirmative.
In an article contributed to La Re-
rue Professor Perrier deals with the
que lion Oh Il strictly scientific basis,
although ho IS led II rather fanciful
conclusions. Taxing into account the
physical conditions which rule III"
moro remote planets Of the solar sys-
ten, Professor Pcrrier thinks that lifa
as Wc understand it cannot cxiS; er
tilc,n.
Mercury. too. with its mean tcIr-
peraturv of 1913 dcgletS, he considers
equally unlikely - d habitation OF liv-
ing things, whether animal or ycgtta-
llc. In the case OF Venus ana Mars
Professor Pcrritr reasons that condi-
tion of gravity. light and composition
Of matter exist which do not essential.
" differ frGin those i this cartI.
The writer assumes that on both
planets there is or las been water. and
that il rains or SHOWS exactly as il
does here. from which he concludes
that at all events lower grade plants
and animals, such as alCa". fungi and
certain forms OF insect life must exist
there. rs regards Venus, it's SPECIFIC
gravity is hut little less than the
carth's and it's aAial inclination 10 its
orbit Is somewhat sleeper than the
earth's, so that despite the shorter
Venus year Of 22i days the difference
in seasons is not very marked. This.
Professor Pcrricr argues. Is favorable
to the existence of long-lived insects
with slow development, such IS bee
ties. lOcustssand The like.
The mean temperature of Venus be-
ing higher than ours. there would be
more water vapor. which would make
possible the growth of ferns and simi-
lar plants of our carbon period. In
| the temperate zones of Venus thes"
animals may have multiplied exceed
| ingly.
Professor Perrier thinks there are ne
| birds, mammals or human beings on
| Venus. As Venus has no moon, it,
| nights are cS'ttullSIN udTk. anu lie
| does not think any night animals ex-
| ist there.
Entirely ,liffarcn. is the picture ths
/ French savant presents of life or
! Mars, which is further away from the
i sun than either Venus or the earth
! The aXial inclination of Mars is lower:
J it's seasons are sharply divided. ond
| the difference between day and night
| is greater. Winter on Mars is Very
! cold, and simmer very hot: its north
| ern hemisphere is warmer. having
| longer summer than its southern half.
| While Venus offers favorable condi-
| tions for creatures with little develop
! ment, Mars is the planet Cor warm
| blooded animals. better able to With
stand extremes of temperature. Mars
Professor Pcrr.er says, is the piane'
of mpmmals and birds. Owing TO th'
lesser gravity, jumping and running
animals would predominant. The dit-
ference in the seasons would proauct
ouick- living creatures which complete
! their life in one season, such as butter
flies. whose metamorphosis enables
then: tn exist through different sea-
| sons.
| ON Mars Towering plants ""uii