IS IT MARS?

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1920, Page 5

IS IT MARS?

"SIGNALS NOT ACCIDENTAL.'-' MARCONI'S THEORY DISCUSSED. By TelegranS.—Press Assn.—CopjTlght, Received Jan. 30, 8,15 p.m. London, Jan. 2!>. Professor Dominico, an Argentine physicist, expresses the opinion that the regularity of the mysterious wireless signals proves them not to be accidental. He discards the theory that they are wireless waves re-hitting apparatus with an altered density 'ifter travelling round the earth.

He adds: Nothing contradicts the hypothesis that they are electric waves sent out from another planet. Eleatrieity travels better in airless interplanetary spaces. Hence it covers enormous distances.—United Service. Melbourne, Jan. 30 In reference to Marconi's mysterious wireless signals Mr. Balsilie, Commonwealth wireless expert, said there was Ho question that tile electrical disturbances were recorded at high power stations sometimes resembling signals. They might be due purely to natuTal causes, but there is no question that they do not emanate from any other stations on this globe. He declined to express an opinion as to the possibility of them originating in Mars. Mr. Baldwin, Government Astrviomer, said the matter "was one for wireleas experts; as a non-expert, however, it seemed highly unlikely to him that they should seek in other worlds for the cause of electrical disturbances Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FACTS ABOUT THE PLANET. REMARKABLE DISCOVERIES. In view of the new interest which now attaches to Mare the following will be of interest:— Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, being the next iri order from the Earth. Its surface exhibits a greater analogy to thait of our own globe than that of any other planet of the solar system; and when it is at its least distance from us, i't shines with great splendour in the midnight sky. Mars can always be distinguished from the other planets, and from the fixed stars, by its ruddy light. Owing to its occasional near approach to our earth, great facilities are obtained for delineating the various lights and shades on its disc; and at such opportunities numerous accurate drawings are always made. When: viewed through large telescopes, the surface of Mars represents the outline of continents and seas, and near the poles white spots are clearly visible, which owe their existence probable to an accumulation of snow in the polar regions. The mean distance of Mars from tho Sun is about 141,570,000 miles, and its nearest distance from the Earth averages about 4S million miles. The equatorial diameter of Mars is about 4,430 miles, and the polar diameter about seventy miles less. Mars revolves around the Sun in a few minutea less than 687 days, and when in or near opposition, its form is sensibly globular, but in other portions of its orbit it is generally seen gibbous. The apparent magnitude of Mars is very variable. When on the opposite side of the Sun with respect to the i Earth, and at its greatest distance from j us, its telescopic diameter amounts to less than four seconds of arc; but at the time of its nearest approach at favorable oppositions, its telescopic diameter is increased to twenty-four seconds of arc. When observed on these occasions with a good telescope, the disc of Mars appears covered with various markings, of a very distinct character, some of which give those defined appearances of continents, islands, seaa, and inlets, which have been so ably depicted; by so many astronomers. The brightest parts, excepting the white patch near the pole, have a ruddy tint, while the darker portions have a greenish hue,- the effect probably of contrast. Although the atmosphere of Mars is not considered to be so dense as was formerly attributed to that planet, yet it is proved that, like the Earth, it is surrounded by one of sufficient density to obscure occasionally the various markings on its surface, particularly those near the edges of the planet. Mars is doubtless subject to similar meteorological phenomena as our Earth, and to perhaps greater sudden changes of weather. Professor Phillips, of Oxford, remarked that the great interchange of the humidity of the atmosphere, which must necessarily take place periodically between the two hemispheres, and especially between the two poles, would give rise to very violent hurricanes, of which we have little conception. The difference in the lengths of the years of the Earth and j Mars is one point where the analogy | between the two planets fails, for as I the Martial year is nearly twice as long as that of the Earth, the seasons on Mars will be lengthened in a corresponding proportion. For example, in the northern hemisphere of Mars, spring last 3 191 Martial days, summer 181 days, autumn 149 days, and winter 147 days; and as the seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, spring and summer, taken together, last seventy-six diays longer in the northern hemisphere than in the southern.