The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-05-14
No Communication
With Mars In 1920
Says Noted Scientist

SAN JOSE, Cal, May 6.-All eff
forts at communication with Mars
during its present close proximity to
the earth will fail, predicts DR.. w. w.
Campbell, director of the Lick Obser-
vatory at Mt. Hamilton.
Smoke screens. concentrated cleo
trical waves, light flashes none
has any promise of success, he de-
%clares.
mo real scientist is ready to say
we shall never be able to communi-
cate with Mars said DR.. Campbell,
but | think all astronomers of good
judgment are ready to say that they
do not have any IDEAS as to how it
is to be accomplished, if at all in the
future.
Il know that the problem is an ex-
ceedingly difficult one and none of the
proposals thus far published are con
coded by scientists to have any prom
Use of success"
Even should such proposals show
my promise of success, conditions are
Ia = propitious this year., says DR..
Ca1L bell. Mars has been much near
er tn, "aTth at other times than at
present. April %, $4,000, OOO miles
viii scpa. he two planets, while
in 1877, 49, 1909 they were only
35 5000. zoo mile part.
Doubtful If Peopl.'
DR.. Campbell stat that, contrary
to popular belief, MAJ is probably
not inhabited.
There is nc foundation NJ the
belief that Mars is inhabited .ays
Dr.. Campbell. Most astronom
think that some form of life exis
on the planet, but we should by no
means assume hat such life resem-
bles life on the earth or that Marian
life represents a high order of intelli-
gence.
If there is life it has been develop
ed in accordance with the physical
conditions there. There is water
scarcity, and extremely low atmos-
phCriC density, much less than at the
summit of II highest mountain peak,
and a temperature 100 degrees colder
than the earth.
ut is quite probable hat there is
vegetable life. but tn '~~e not neces-
Sarily imply at5lngent animal M.
The Colors of large areas on Mars
change from season to season as do
The general cOlors of the Mississippi
valley. This might lead to the belief
that the planet is under cultivation,
but we must remember that the forests
and prairies of the Mississippi valley
put on green in the spring and dark
er colors in the fall, much more pro-
~nOuncCdly before the advent of man
than after his coming"
Could Not Respond
DR.. Campbell is so confident that
no communication can be established
with Mars this year that no special
plans for observation or study are
being made at Lick Observatory. The
same is true of the observatory on
Mt. Wilson, California, which mounts
the worlds largest reflecting tele-
scope.
The opposition of Mars will last
from April 81, when the planet will
be "a, 500, 900 miles from the earth
until May 81, when the distance will
have increased to 5S,5OO,000 miles.
Should communication be attempt
ed, says DR.. Campbell, and should it
be possible to make this attempt visi-
BILE or audible on the surface of Mars
there is no reason to suppose that the
success of the attempt could be prov
en-. Should some form of intelligence
exist in an atmosphere 100 degrees
colder than the coolest region On the
earth it is very doubtful, says DR..
Campbell, whether they would under
stand any attempt at communication
-or would be able to make any attempt
in answer.