CHANGES IN MARS!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 229, 2 November 1909, Page 4

CHANGES IN MARS!

LOWELL'S RECENT CLAIMS. The first indications of life on Mars were tlie go-called k; canals," first observed some twenty years ago by Schiaparelli. Running with mathematical straightness across the surface of the planet and describing geometrical figure on it, the'r origin could not be explained ;by the forces of Nature. But there was | equal difficulty in the supposition that Mars was inhabited by a race of intetli- | gent beings similar to ourselves 'who had J made the "canals," as for years it was | supposed that there was no atmospherf on Mars, and that the white patches seen on the poles of the planet, and referred to in a recent cable, were condensed carbonic acid. Professor Lovell, however, about 1804, came to the conclusion that the white patches were not carbonic acid, but wensnow or ice, and that consequently there was atmosphere, for -water and water vapor would not be found unless there was. This remained little more than a guess until last year, when Professor Lowell claimed to have definitely discovered water vapor on Mars. With in* finite difficulty a photograph of the spectrum of Mars was obtained, which showed the presence of water-vapor. This was followed last September by thi? statement that Professor Lowell had discovered oxygen, the life-giving principle of the air that we breathe, is pretont on the surface of Mara.

It must he pointed out, however, that in some quarters the photographic evidence is nr.t accepted as final It was *ugg.»9fed for instance, that the water\apor shown might he in our own air. Another writer remarks: "Dr. 0. Johnstone Finney has reminded us in his recent pamphlet, 'Telescopic Vision,' that, ; o»ving to diffraction and interference, J the telescopic image cannot give us *»n j absolutely perfect representation to the original; thus in a mixcroscope, when •we press magnify ins; power beyond what the anerluro will warrant, we get. .spurious images. Some of the very fine detail drawn by Lowell, such as'the dark £nots, 'oases.' where the canals cross, or the triangular 'carets.' where thc vleave the dusky regions for the Mrterts,' may he of this spurious character, and one should always hear in mind the possibility of optical illusion in discussing details that are on th.» very limit of visibility." This writer screes that Professor Lowell may claim to have shown thai: the presence of ws»ter on Mars is extremely probable. A large part of Professor Lowell's claims is the observation of the alleged effects of changing seasons, the snov?neltimr and the enlarcrincr. of the channels, From lone observation'of the di £ e of the planet Lovell U certain thnt tlie greater part of Mars is a husre desert. The ruddy color of the planet when seen under a powerful "lass is the identical hue of the Arizona desert when seen from a jrreat height. The darker space* v.hieh older as!rnnoiners called se-.\s he finds ebnn«-o {b«sr enlor "'MI the seasons covered with VesetMion. which is ill- onlv IhiMir thai could change its hue 'vith the chnn«. r MiT reasons.