PLANET MARS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 August 1924, Page 5

PLANET MARS

POSSIBLE SIGNALS. SCIENTISTS TO USE WIRELESS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT BUENOS AYRES, Aug. 20. United States scientists will listen-in for possible signals from the theoretical inhabitants of Mars. The Foreign Office publishes a communication from Washington, saying that an astronomer, Mr. Todd, requests countries with high-powered, wireless to order stations to remain silent temporarily in order that Martian signals may be detected. OBSERVATIONS BY ASTRONOMERS TWO DARK PATCHES. POSSIBLY VEGETATION. Received Aug. 22, 9.25 a m. NEW YORK, Aug. 21. The Lowell observatory announces a tremendous growth of two dark areas near the equator of Mars, which, a month ago, were comparatively faint. These regions were at the rear, of the planet until recently, and therefore not able to be entirely observed, but have now swung into wider view,' presenting graphic evidence of the expansion that has taken place since the ■spring season began in the Martian southern hemisphere. They are a faint blue green and might be an expanse of vegetation. Scientifically these regions of Mars are known as “mare cimmerium and “mare sirenum ” named before it was concluded that Mars probably lias neither seas or oceans. The regions are nearly four bundled miles wide and stretch across nearly the entire disk of the planet. They probably comprise a million ■square miles. Since the first was noted earlier this year the planet’s titlting on its axis has brought these legions almost directly under the •sun s rays on this earth, and this action causes seasonal changes, pig a growth of vegetation and melting the polar snow caps. Assuming this is what is occurring on Mars, tlmii the southern polar snows mav be ■slowly disappearing there in accordance with a suggestion by the astronomer, Professor Tod, of Amherst -All American radios will listen for messages from Mars between now and the week end; also hundreds of thouornl U° f I ra< 10 thou ghout America and Lngland will be silent during fiveniinute periods, starting on Thursday a^T» mi f Saturday at noon Professor Todd declared : “Without doubt Mars was inhabited in the past sfretclT TJ b i emgS ’ S ° 110 t tr -v and +i,i et( vr bds acros s the ether. If the Martians ever made an attempt to communicate with us now is the My scheme cannot do any harm, and really might come of it.” ometmn S When the air is steady Professor Slipper, photographic expert astronomer, wilt capture tIT appearance on very sensitive graphic plates.—Sydney Sun Cables.