WIRELESS TO MARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19470, 28 October 1926, Page 10

WIRELESS TO MARS.

COMMUNICATION EFFORTS. SIGNALS FROM MOUNTAIN. EXPERTS ERECT APPARATUS. TELESCOPIC OBSERVATIONS. (Received 9.5 p.m.) 'A. and N.Z.-Sun. LONDON, Oct. 26. A message from Paris states tliat wireless experts are installing special apparatus on the highest peak of Mont Blanc, with a view to attempting to communicate with Mars. That planet will lie the cynosure of all telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere tomorrow, as the earth will be in nearly a direct lino between Mars and the sun. The planet will therefore be fully visible high in the heavens and distant only 42,600,000 iniles from the earth. Scientists hope to find evidence of liSe on the planet. Thousands of wireless enthusiasts will also attempt to tune in with Mars in order to detect any signals if the Martians wish to address the dwellers on the earth. Dr. A. C. Crommelin, assistant at Greenwich Observatory, is sceptical. He says he considers that even if the Martians are intelligent there is no reason why they should think the people of the earth are expecting signals, as the inhabitants of the two planets are millions of years apart with regard to scientific knowledge. If there had been intelligent inhabitants cn Mars they would havo had wireless knowledge millions of years ago.