APPROACH OF MARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19260, 26 August 1924, Page 7

APPROACH OF MARS

OBSERVED OF ALL OBSERVERS LITTLE INFORMATION GAINED. THE MAGELLANIC CLOUD. NEW STARS DISCOVERED. Press Association —By Telegraph Copyright. NEW YORK, August 24. A week's observations of the Martian perihelion in opposition has revealed nothing revolutionary, inasmuch as the observers’ opinions continue to be contradictory, as they wore in 1870, when a debate concerning the characteristics _ of Mars began. Nevertheless, a closer view has afforded an enlargement of the meagre knowledge of the planet. . The observatory at Flagstaff (Arizona) noted what is presumed to be a greater growth of vegetation than was formerly discernible. Professor Edwin Frost, at lerkes Observatory, Chicago, which has the largest refracting lens in the world, reiterated his belief that the presence of animal life m Mars is almost out of the question, but he reasserted that fungi probably exists It is generally agreed that radio communication with the planet has totally failed. Several stations, notably at Vancouver, repeatedly heard strmige combinations—four dashes accompanied by zipping sounds—which, however, proved to be messages from the United States radio beacons ..using a new type of transmitter. Nevertheless, the naval radio stations have been instructed to continue listening carefully for unusual sounds. Many observations made at Lowell Observatory confirm the opinion that the heat on Mars is sufficient to support organic life as we know it. The southern snow cap is quite easily seen, and it is like a huge snow hat. The planet s summer season is just loginning, and the observations during the next few weeks are expected to afford interesting data. Havard astronomers watching Mars were rewarded by the discovery of new stars in the Magellanic Clouds. They state that these stars are of greater hrilli ance than anv others heretofore seen in that group. They are three or four times larger than the famed giants Betelgeuse and Antares. It is estimated that there are more than 500,000 stars that are at least 100 times as luminous as our sun in the small Magellanic Cloud, which is receding from the Milky Way at a velocity of 100 miles per second. —A. and N.Z. and Reuter Cables. The Magellanic Clouds is the name given the cloud-like oval masses of thicklyclustered stars and nebulce in the neighbourhood of the South Celestial Pole. They are named after the navigator Ferdinand Magellan, and resemble a portion of the Milky Way in appearance, though apparenty they are not connected with its structure. Sir John Herschcl, who studied them in detail, counted in the greater cloud 286 distinct nebulee and star clusters, and a large number of stars. In 1890 Mr H. N. Russell, of Sydney, demonstrated that the clouds were of spiral formation. Betelgeuse is the brightest star in Orion. Antares is the great red star at the heart of the Scorpion. THE SURFACE OF MARS. RESULT OF LOWELL OBSERVATIONS. VANCOUVER, August 23. A message from Flagstaff (Arizona) states that the presence of steam or vapor arising from the melting of the polar caps and the appearance of clouds on the surface, establishing the fact that an atmosphere exists cn Mars, are the outstanding developments of the study of the planet at Lowell Observatory during the observations. Dr Slipher, the observatory director, states that the planet's surface is divided into red and blue-green regions. The red portions have the same appearance as the earth’s desert regions, and are little affected by the changing seasons; but the blue-green districts, which some astronomers contend to be seas, show a tint that changes at different seasons. The present theory is that the blue-green regions are vegetation, for they fade out later in some sections to a chocolate brown colour.—Reuter. WIRELESS MESSAGES. MARTIANS PRESERVE SILENCE. LONDON, August 24. The editor of the publication Popular Wireless, accompanied by Professor Low, listened-in for messages from Mars. He reports that he hoard curious noises—harsh long dots in groups at irregular intervals. He is convinced that they were not of earthly origin. The set was tuned to well over 50,000 metres. Professor Low is sceptical, and explains tliat the noises were probably caused by atmospheric conditions between distant stations.—Sydney Sun Cable. LONDON., August 24. Mr Marconi, who has been spending a holiday in Portugal in a private yacht, declares that he will not listen-in for Mars signals, because lie does not believe that the planet is habitable. Scientists ridicnlo the suggestion that the signals heard are from Mars. They ascribe them to atmospheric causes.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LOCAL OBSERVATIONS; Mars was viewed again last night by members of the Astronomical Committee of (he itoslyn Observatory, (he visibility on this occasion being a little better than on Saturday night. Although nothing of any importance was disclosed, it was noticed (hat the equatorial markings seemed rather smaller than usual, and a little more southward.