Post by alabaster on Feb 18, 2005 16:46:06 GMT
From the first chapter:
Thanks to the efforts of BadAstronomy.com:
Nature, 2nd August, 1894:
During the opposition of 1894 a great light was seen on the illuminated part of the disk, first at the Lick Observatory, then by Perrotin of Nice, and then by other observers. English readers heard of it first in the issue of Nature dated August 2. I am inclined to think that this blaze may have been the casting of the huge gun, in the vast pit sunk into their planet, from which their shots were fired at us. Peculiar markings, as yet unexplained, were seen near the site of that outbreak during the next two oppositions.
Thanks to the efforts of BadAstronomy.com:
Nature, 2nd August, 1894:
Since the arrangements for circulating telegraphic information on astronomical subjects was inaugurated, Dr. Krueger, who is in charge of the Central Bureau at Kiel, certainly has not favoured his correspondents with a stranger telegram than the one which he flashed over the world on Monday afternoon :-
"Projection lumineuse dans region australe du terminateur de Mars observee par Jarvelle 28 Juillet 16 heures Perrotin"
This relates to an observation made at the famous Nice Observatory, of which M. Perrotin is the Director, by M. Javelle, who is already well known for his careful work. The news therefore must be accepted seriously, and, as it may be imagined, details are anxiously awaited; on Monday and Tuesday nights, unfortunately, the weather in London was not favourable for observation, so whether the light continues or not is not known.
It would appear that the luminous projection is not a light outside the the disc of Mars, but in the region of the planet not lighted up by the sun at the time of observation. The gibbosity of the planet is pretty considerable at the present time. Had there been evidence that the light was outside the disc, the strange appearance might be due to a comet in the same line of sight as the planet. If we assume the light to be on the planet itself, then it must either have a physical or human origin; so it is to be expected that the old idea that the Martians are signalling to us will be revived. Of physical origins we can only think of Aurora (which is not improbable, only bearing in mind the locality named, but distinctly improbable unless we assume that in Mars the phenomenon is much more intense than with us), a long range of snow-capped hills, and forest fires burning over a large area.
Without favouring the signalling idea before we know more of the observation, it may be stated that a better time for signalling could scarcely be chosen, for Mars being now a morning star, means that the opposition when no part of its dark surface will be visible, is some time off.
The Martians, of course, find it much easier to see the dark side of the Earth than we do to see the dark side of Mars, and whatever may be the explanation of the appearances which three astronomers of reputation have thought proper to telegraph over the world, it is worth noting that forest fires over large areas may be the first distinctive thing observed on either planet from the other besides the fixed surface markings.
"Projection lumineuse dans region australe du terminateur de Mars observee par Jarvelle 28 Juillet 16 heures Perrotin"
This relates to an observation made at the famous Nice Observatory, of which M. Perrotin is the Director, by M. Javelle, who is already well known for his careful work. The news therefore must be accepted seriously, and, as it may be imagined, details are anxiously awaited; on Monday and Tuesday nights, unfortunately, the weather in London was not favourable for observation, so whether the light continues or not is not known.
It would appear that the luminous projection is not a light outside the the disc of Mars, but in the region of the planet not lighted up by the sun at the time of observation. The gibbosity of the planet is pretty considerable at the present time. Had there been evidence that the light was outside the disc, the strange appearance might be due to a comet in the same line of sight as the planet. If we assume the light to be on the planet itself, then it must either have a physical or human origin; so it is to be expected that the old idea that the Martians are signalling to us will be revived. Of physical origins we can only think of Aurora (which is not improbable, only bearing in mind the locality named, but distinctly improbable unless we assume that in Mars the phenomenon is much more intense than with us), a long range of snow-capped hills, and forest fires burning over a large area.
Without favouring the signalling idea before we know more of the observation, it may be stated that a better time for signalling could scarcely be chosen, for Mars being now a morning star, means that the opposition when no part of its dark surface will be visible, is some time off.
The Martians, of course, find it much easier to see the dark side of the Earth than we do to see the dark side of Mars, and whatever may be the explanation of the appearances which three astronomers of reputation have thought proper to telegraph over the world, it is worth noting that forest fires over large areas may be the first distinctive thing observed on either planet from the other besides the fixed surface markings.
