WORLD’S BIGGEST TELESCOPE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 80, 28 December 1921, Page 8

WORLD’S BIGGEST TELESCOPE

SCIENTIST’S PLAN TO SEE MARS.

The age-old question, “Does human life exist on Mars?” will be answered in 1924 if the astronomical enterprise planned, by Mr. B. McAtee, an American millionaire scientist, is successful. Mr. McAfee, who is well known in America for his astronomical research, in which he has collaborated with Professor David Todd, of Harvard University, is engaged on his 05-acre estate of Villers-sur-Mer, near Deauville, France, in making plans for the most gigantic telescope ever conceived. writes a correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” With it he will be able, ho says, to look at Mars ami study it as though it were only a mile and a half away. Mars will bo as clearly seen, he believes, as the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, would lie in clear weather by an observer on the top of the Nelson Column. “I have,” he said, “been making observations with Professor Todd for many years. We have decided to do the utmost to take advantage of the very exceptional conditions which will exist during 1924 for the observation of Mars. Three times during that year Mars will lie nearer the earth than it has been for more than a century. We have decided to build the biggest, telescope ever constructed with which to make our observations. “Professor Todd found- a mine shaft at Chanaual, Chile, where Mars will be at the zenith several limes during 1924. Wo will use this mine shaft as the barrel of our telescope. It will be sheathed and 50ft. in diameter.

“We shall dispense with a glass mirror, tho greatest difficulty in a large telescope, by substituting an invention of my own. This is a Hat sheet-iron dish 50ft. in diameter, into which mercury will be poured. When the dish is rotated at a certain speed the surface of tho mercury will assume tho necessary concavity and form a splendid mirror.

“Owing to the great luminosity which the telescope will give, we shall be able to take snapshots instead of time exposures. Bv this telescope and microscopic photographs it will be possible to obtain a total magnification of 25.00(1.ivv) This means that the surface of Mers, which is 35,000.000 miles away, will be brought to a little more than a mile ami a half from the observer. Thus wo believe we are iustified in saying that if U’ere is evidence of work done by intelligent beings nn Ma-s we shall he able to seo it. W° shall not only lie able to sav whetl>r>- l>>nn-'n lUe exists o-n Mars, but we shall be able to de 1 "’ mine some of ftie conditions of flint life, ami to obtain an idea of the civil-isn'-on there.” “Do you bol’oVp lir- nvisfc on Mars?” the spo-inl correspondent asked him “I certainly do.” he replied, “and I exooet to nrove it.’ Mr. AcAfoe says fhflt ho. fho professor, anfl their partv will 'lay nt Ch:i”arnl throughout 1924 making observations. f3oni» preliminary work will lie done at Clianaral next year. M’. McAfee and n small advance party will leave for Chilo in the Znrife, (ho American scientist’s 700-ton yacht, next spring.