OXYGEN IN MARS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 609, 11 September 1909, Page 5

OXYGEN IN MARS.

A CLAIM BY PROFESSOR LOWELL. Illy TelccrapU.-Press Association.-CopjTlCbl.i (Rec. September, 10, 9.33 p.m.) . , Now Vork, September 10. Professor Peroival Lowell, the well-known astronomer,'of; -Flagstaff ■; Observatory,, Arizona, has observed oxygen iii the atmfisphero on Mars,.

PROBLEM OF LIFE IN MARS. - Professor Loiyell, in. his ladvocaoy of the theory that'there.has been and probably, is life oft. liars, has,,dwelt mostly on the siupposcd ganals,-'which'ho insists are of artificial con-struction.-:;To prove tho existence of. life as ive understand it in this globe .oxygen would, of course,-'be vital. Ho went a good .way towards thoipresent claim when, ho stated, that ho had observed jvater vapour lon' liars.' Reporting this claim,. one paper 6'aid' ■. " '■? -:- : - Water Vapour. ' ,

Mars hasia'n atmosphere, and in' that atmosphere thero'is the -vapour of water—drinkable, water—two.parts.'of.hydrogen to,'one of oxygen, such as (lowa (bar the mud).down the Tkam?s. "There aro alternato.•' periods. of heat and 'c01d... In the latter time the vapour condenses and falls upon the l , surface as-snow.'and confeals-' into ice. .. Martian. Arctio regibns. where [artian. 'Discovery':expeditions may battlo to. reach , the Poles. . :,v ."With- llie approach, of 'summer the .white ice-caps at, either end of; the axis. shrink as the:, thaw. sets. in.. Thc-n there happens that which first set" liien asking themselves the question ono must not expect 'to have answered to-day.;- : . ' }■ "'."■■■• : <. ■-. "Curious bands, appear "whero previously there were none.: They .do not come, at hazard, but with; nn. ordered sequence which. suggests the' active agency of. intelligent effort in their construction. • - ..- ... •- - • - -.- "Dp to the' time, thai water, vapour :wq9 identified in' tho .'atmosphere, the. idea of living baings—such as .we.Understand the.term.on this globe, of ours-fbeing' instrumental in. making, those band 9. was 'too visionary even to bo suggested.. 'With' .no : water to drink, no:. air to breathe, how could living creaturesiho there? , "But. when tho: spectra both of - air and water .were' obtained 'the question came. "The bands were dignified by tho title of canals. ' Who, or what, • made • them? Also why?. . J ; y, .•>>■ / -w' -, The iMiutiiCljmatMs>ai;p '• itrf'// , Jrigrov ,ot! ' ;. Professor lowoll, argues thit' "Mars possesses ■a climato- on the',average equal to that of: tho Eolith ofEngland,,and jn its- polar.' and sub-' polar regions.oven less: severe tlian that 1 of the' : .earth,";.;. Duriig '.the''.'present month Mpirs , should .' bo nearer' for. purppscs-qf tobsarvation"thari it' has been Vsmco'* 3892..' -:The - most .favourable oppositions >ocour;;wheri- it ,is -nearest, the -sun, and , repeat , themselves;: at intervals of-.seven oppositions, or .15 yoars,. A tabjs follows giving details .of. four favourable oppositions and two unfavourable'ones:—

v. . , V ;1 i ' • Dist. in ■-. Date of .least* distanco from ' '.-millions -./.il, ' ef \ rla - . of miles. 1892 ; ......... Aug. G Favourable . '35 1891 Oct; 13 Favourable' '■ •" -10 1899 -Jail,l6 . .Unfavourable ■ CO 1901 : Feb. 23 '-; • Unfavourable 03 1907>:-.......v..; July 13 Favourable ' .33 ISO 9 Sep. 18. / .Favourable 3B .