Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27
MARS CANALS REAL,
ASTRONOMERS FIND
Study From Lowell 0bserva-
tory Shows Planet Is Not
as Cold as Believed.
By Science Service


FLAGSTAFF', AriZ.. September 20.
Whenever one mentions the Lowell
Observatory he thinks first of investi-
cations of the planet Mars, for this
institution has probably watched the
warriors planet over a long period
and more carefully than any other in
the world. Last Summer Mars was
closer to the earth than it had been
for many years. and in the period
from the Spring OF 1924 to July of
this year, when the planet reached a
Ane with the sun and was lost TO view.
handreds of drawings and tens of
thousands of photographs were made
with the 24-inch telescope, chiefly by
Earl &. Slipher. These show seasonal
chan2as, doubtless similar to what
would be observed on the earth itself
from "a like distance; clouds, which
appeared moved across the Marian
surface and vanished like terrestrial
storms. and also those strange. dark,
straight markings which have been
called the CANALS and over which so
much controversy has waged.
Canals Not Illusions.
Many astronomers. some of great
repute. have expressed the opinion
that these are mere optical illusions,
and that those who 6aimed to have
seen them were mistaken. To any
one who has paid visit to the Lowell
Observatory, such as l have just com
pleted, and has had the pleasure of
seeing Mr.. Slipher's actual photo
graphic negatives on which the
"canals" distinctly show, such "a view
is unthinkable. The markings are
there, but whether or not they indi-
cate the presence of intelligent life is
agpother and still undetermined queS-
ton.
Nirect photography and visual OBJ
servaatons Of Mars We're not the only
methAds used by the Lowell astrono-
mers last Summer. for with the CO.
operation Of the United States Bureau
of Standards accurate measurements
were made for the first time of the
amount of radiation from the planet.
and from this 1t has been possible to
Judge accurately it's temperature.
This was done with a very delicate in
strument known as the Coblentz
radiometer. Last Summer DIR. Cob
lentz and Dr. c. o. ,Lampland of the
observatory staff worked on this prob
lem and since that time DIR. Lampland
has continued the research. applying
the radiometer not only DO Mars, but
to Mercury, Venus, Saturn, jupiter
and Uranus as we'll
Temperature High.
The instrument is used with tie OBJ
servatory's rejecting telescope, which
has a mirror 40 inches in diameteh to
gather the light from the planet. They
have found that the Marian temperthA
ture is surprisingly high, as much as
SO degrees Fahrenheit in Summer.
This is Of particular interest because
many astronomers have supposed that
because Mars is so many millions of
miles farther away from the sun, our
common source of energy, than we
tfnually below the freezing point of
water.
However, the earth retains only a
little over half the radiation that 1t
receives. while Mars absorbs about So
per cent. The study of Mars has now
ceased temporarily, but next year 1t
will be resumed, when the planet.
though not as close as in 1894, will be
higher in the sky and in better posi-
ton for observation
Meanwhile, DR.. Lapland is studying
the other planets. Jupiter. he f1nds,
gives practically no radiation that can
be detected with the instrument, while
Venus, most surprisingly, radiates
strongly from the dark portions as
we'll as the bright. With this planet.
which now shines brightly low In the
western sky just after sunset. the
problem is complicated, because we do
not see the surface. 1t is perpetually
covered with clouds. and we do not
yet know how far we can penetrate
through them.