The Coconino sun., 1924-08-22
MARS WILL BE NEAREST
EARTH TONIGHT; SEASONS
BEING STUDIED AT LOWELL
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a t.l7

(Continued from Page One.
realize how small the part we play in
the universal drama.
Probable, however, as extra-terres-
trial life in general is, it is another
matter to predict it in any particular
case. Nevertheless, if it exists it
must exist somewhere, and the first
place to scan is the place we can scan
best. Now the moon appears to be
hopelessly dead Mars, therefore, be-
comes of peculiar interest and it was
in hope Of leaving something
on the subject that the OBJ
seryations about to be described in
this book we're made. Before pro-
ceeding, however, to an account of
what in consequence we have learned
about our neighbor, a couple of mis-
apprehensions upon the subject, not
confined, ] am sorry to say, wholly to
the lay mind, must first be corrected.
One of these is that extra terrestrial
life means extra terrestrial human
life. Under changed conditions, life
itself must take on other forms"
To such eminent observers and stu
dents of Mars as Lowell and Schia-
parelli, who diligently sought at first
hand to gather evidence for the solu-
ton of many problems pertaining to
the planet, there seemed to be no
room for doubt that Mars was living
planet resembling in many ways our
own earth. Many of the observed
phenomena Of Mars are similar to
those one would expect to see in the
corresponding seasonal activities on
different parts of our own planet IL
viewed from space as we observe
Mars. 1t will be of interest to give
now some results of direct observa-
tional evidence pertaining to the heat
sent out from the surface of Mars.
By the usual methods of calculating
planetary temperatures most compu-
tations led to the conclusion that the
average temperature of Mars is far
below the freezing point of water.
From the observed activities on the
surface of the planet such a state OF
affairs appears untenahle to many as
tronomers. 1t should be stated how
ever that Lowell by taking into ac-
count factors previously omitted cal
culated an average temperature for
Mars Of about s degrees Centigrade
or AZ degrees Fahrenheit, and such q
figure appears to be in reasonable
accord with the observed phenomena.
The sharply drawn divergent views
on the important question of the
planets temperature indicate the
urgent need of an independent method
of obtaining evidence on the matter,
and of course the direct method of
measuring the radiation sent out by
the planets surface and atmosphere
should be most convincing. 1t as only
within ten years that instruments of
the extreme sensitiveness required
have been perfected sufficiently to
give hope of successfully attacking
the problem. Thanks to DR.. Coblentz'
skill in the design and construction of
delicate radiometric instruments, and
his wide knowledge of radiation prob
lens it has now been possible to OBJ
tain trustworthy information of the
heat returned from the surface OF
Mars. During the near approach Of
Mars in 1922 Coblentz and Lampland
attacked the heat problem of Mars,
and with further Improvements to
their instruments have been continu-
ing the work this opposition, studying
In detail the heat energy sent out
from the various portions of the sur
face of Mars.
The gist Of the extensive series of
measurements by Coblentz and Lamp
land on Mars is that the actual heat
conditions on the planet as revealed
by the delicate measuring instruments
is due to much higher temperature
of the surface than determined by
theoretical calculations, which meth
'ods necessarily involve ilnperfectly
known factors in the computa tiOns.
The heat measurements show: that
the equatorial zones are much warm=
er than the polar regions which send
out no appreciable amount Of heat;
the morning side of the planet is at a
lower Temperature than the Afternoon
side which has longer been exposed to
the suns rays; the dark regions are
at a higher temper ratpre than the
light ones, and gradual rise in tenn
perature of the surface Of the south-
ern hemisphere where summer is now
advancing. '
The extensive visual and photo
praphic observations have revealed
very interesting and extensive cloud
phenomena, melting Of the south
polar cap and wide spread change in
the Martian surface features seasonal
and otherwise. Room for an account
of these will be found in the next sis-
sue of The Sun. As
CAPOPA INDIAN IS TAKEN AS