MARS INHABITED

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2313, 4 December 1925, Page 9

MARS INHABITED

THE LATEST THEORY. VIEWS OF AMERICAN ASTRONOMER. Perhaps the most important piece of information gleaned by astronomers during last year’s favourable opposition of Mars was the establishment of the fact that the Martian temperature is not nearly so low as many astronomers believed it to be (says an astonomical correspondent of Che Manchester Guardian)'. The radiometric measures of Hr, Coblentz and Mr Lampland at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona seem to have proved definitely that the mean temperature of our neighbour world ranges between 45deg. to (isdeg. F. “The measurements indicate that the temperature of the brightly illuminated surface of Mars is not unlike that of a cool bright day on the earth.” These measurements, confirmed in the main by the results of the astronomers at Mount Wilson, afford conclusive proof tnat the school of astronomers took their stand on ‘Theoretical temperature” were completely in the wrong. The Martian temperature, as Sohanparelli, Flammarion, Lovell, Pickering and others have maintained is not so very different from that of our earth. “The climatic warmth of the two planets,” as Lowell said, “is not very unlike and far within the possibilities of life for both.” Last year’s observations of Mars, too, would seem to necessitate a revision of current opinion not only on the Martian temperature but on the Martian atmosphere. Hitherto the opinion has prevailed that the atmosphere is much more rarefied that ours and virtually free from clouds, Lowell estimated it to be “thinner at least by half than the air on the summit of the Himalayas.” while maintaining that in composition it did not differ greatly from our own. Lowelv. also held that Mars was comparatively free from clouds. Within the last few years, however, the observations of Mr E. C. Slipher, of the Lowell Observatory, and of Professor W. H. Pickering have shown that the Martian atmosphere is cloudier than Lowell supposed. At the opposition of 1920 Mr Slipher drew attention to the “unusual, extensive and conspicuous cloud-iike forms” visible over the Martian surface: while Professor Pickering announced some time ago that “probably haze, covering the entire planet,” occurred in 1924. “Mars seemed especially lacking in contrast,” Pickering found at last year’s opposition. A Photographic Test. At the Lick Observatory in California, Dr. W. H. Wright tried the expert ment of photographing Mars through screens transmitting only certain colours. The results of this investigation are certainly highly significant. Dr. Wright photgraphed the planet first in blue light, and secondly in infrared light The photographs in blue light gave a radius 120 miles greater than those in infra-red. Dr, Wright interprets this as indicating that the blue image is that of the planet with Its atmosphere, while the infra-red Image is that of the globe of Mars alone. The Martian atmosphere, then would seem to be at least 120 miles in depth, Profeaso? Pickering’, in his

latest “Report on Mars”, gives it as his opinion that It is now time for astronomers “to change their views with regard to surface conditions on that planet and to adopt the position that not merely its temperature but also its atmospheric pressure closely resembles that found on the earth." Professor Pickering’s reasoned conclusion is of significance as bearing on the much-debated question of the habitability of Mars. As is well known the late Professor Percival Lowell deduced from the canal system—lts geometrical appearance and seaso development—the existence of a race of intelligent beings on Mars. In regard to these hypothetical Martians he went as far as to say: “What we sec hints at beings who are in advance of, not behind, us in the journey of life.” Hitherto most astronomers have been sceptical of all such theories for two reasons: first the temperature difficulty, and secondly, the supposed rarity of the Martian atmosphere. The temperature difficulty, however, has been removed, and, as Professor Pickering assures us, the Martian atmosphere in all likelihood, does not differ much from our own. “We may, perhaps, say.” says Pickering, “that with similar conditions to those found on the earth, and vegetable life assured, animal life is almost certain. Furthermore, if it and if intelligent life exists there, as the straight and narrow canals seem to imply, then the evidence now adduced indicates that it need not be so very unlike ourselves as we have heretofore been led to surmise.”

N A Convert to Lowell’s Theory. Hitherto Professor Pickering has been somewhat sceptical of Lowell’s theory of intelligent life. While keeping an open mind on the subject he has always felt that the hypothesis is too hazardous. Now, however, he has evidently gone over to the Lowelllan position. He does not, o course, accept the theory as Lowell put it forward. Thus the broader and (ess regular canals are believed by Pickering to be areas of moistened ground, .“the moisture being deposited from fog at night along the tracks of winds proceeding from the polar cap.” Pickering refuted some years ago the irrigation theory of the narrower canals and inclined to the view that if they are artificial they artstrips of ground fertilised by the artificial localisation of fogs. While the nature of the animal life existing on Mars must, for the time being, remain a matter of conjecture Dr. Ooblentz, whose radiometric work has solved the temperature problem, has carefully investigated the possible kinds of vegetation which may exist on our neighbour world. Dr Coblentz thinks that the comparatively high temperature is due, not only to the Martian atmosphere, and Its heatretaining properties, but also to the vegetation which grows in the fertile regions. The existence of large Ureas of tussock-grass and of tundra mosses and lichen may largely explain the temperature, for such forms of vegetation largely absorb solar radiation.