LIFE ON MARS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10742, 13 November 1928, Page 2

LIFE ON MARS.

SOME INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS.

Some of the most remarkable observations of the planets which have ever been made were described to the Royal Astronomical Society by Dr. W. H. Wright, of the Lick Observatory, California, in delivering the annual George Darwin lecture, says the ‘"‘Morning Post.” The method which has been used, is to photograph the planets, in light of different colors by the, suitable use of color filters and to compare the results. By 6uch means it has been demonstrated, among other things, that Mars has an atmosphere whose height may be given tentatively as about 120 miles, in which meteorological changes take place similar to those of the earth. The method is capable, on further development, of giving much. .more, important evidence on the much-discussed epestion of the habitability of Mars toan any yet obtained. Photographs of the planet in ultraviolet and in red light differ greatly in appearance, cluetiy in the fact that the latter show much more detail than the former. The explanation is readily obtained by photographing distant landscapes on the earth in the respective colors. It is then seen that a similar effect is obtained, because our atmosphere is much more transparent to red than to violet and ultra violet; in other words', we can pentrate much more deeply by red than by ultra violet light. In the case of the planets the difference between the two photographs can therefore be attributed to the existence of planetary atmospheres. That the effect is more than can be accounted for by our own atmosphere is shown by repeating the observations on the moon, which has no atmosphere or its own. It is then found that the difference between the photographs is very much smaller than tnat which characterises the planetary photographs. The conclusion is that the red light shows the surface on the planet, whereas the ultra-vioim-light shows its atmosphere, since ultra-violet light nvm the surtace would be absorbed before reaching the earth.

Mars has two “polar-caps” which have been held to l.e formed of snow, andl for the distribution of . winch over the planet the so-called canals have been said, by advocates of the habitation theory to have. Keen constructed. The new photographs show conclusively that these caps are at least partly atmospheric. They appear. to be precipitated in the atmosphere- from much larger clouds °t which the Martian atmosphere contains many, and which in general undergo' iregular changes similar to those of terrestrial clouds. Hr. Wright is not convinced, however, that they are formed of water-drops, like our clouds, and is, in fact, rathe” inclined to a . contrary opinipn. The atmosphere- of Mars is not so clear as ours; measurements indicate that it is at least twice as obscure. The surface features of the planet have undergone marked changes in a period of two years, but it is not possible at present to determine the cause, of this. Similar observation of other planets have been made with very interesting results;. Possible indications of a hiterto unknown fourth ring of the planet Saturn have been o'sained, hut further observations, which cannot bo made until seven years hence, are-necessary to settle the question.- • With consummate skill and industry, Hr- VV right has prepared a cinematograph. aim slio.Yvmo- the planet “Jupiter in rotation—of course, at a greatly accelerated speed. This was exhibited to the audience, and evoked loud applause. The new method of investigations is -olio most important advance m t«.-.e study of the'planets wnicli ba-a been made for many years, and has id" ready thrown an entirely new light on many long-standing problems..