Is Mars habitable?
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| Is Mars habitable? A critical examination of Professor Percival Lowell's book "Mars and its canals," with an alternative explanation by |
| OCLC 2661357 1907 rebuttal to Mars and its Canals |
Chapter I. Early Observers of Mars
Mars the only planet the surface of which is distinctly visible · Early observation of the snow-caps and seas · The 'canals' seen by Schiaparelli in 1877 · Double canals first seen in 1881 · Round spots at intersection of canals seen by Pickering in 1892 · Confirmed by Lowell in 1894 · Changes of colour seen in 1892 and 1894 · Existence of seas doubted by Pickering and Barnard in 1894
Chapter II. Mr. Lowell's Discoveries and Theories
Observatory at Flagstaff, Arizona · Illustrated book on his observations of Mars · Volume on Mars and its canals · 1906 Non-natural features · The canals as irrigation works of an intelligent race · A challenge to the thinking world · The canals as described and mapped by Mr. Lowell · The double canals · Dimensions of the canals · They cross the supposed seas · Circular black spots termed oases · An interesting volume
Chapter III. The Climate and Physiography of Mars
No permanent water on Mars · Rarely any clouds and no rain · Snow-caps the only source of water · No mountains, hills, or valleys on Mars · Two-thirds of the surface a desert · Water from the snow-caps too scanty to supply the canals · Miss Clerke's views as to the water-supply · Description of some of the chief canals · Mr. Lowell on the purpose of the canals · Remarks on the same · Mr. Lowell on relation of canals to oases and snow-caps · Critical remarks on the same
Chapter IV. Is Animal Life Possible on Mars?
Water and air essential for animal life · Atmosphere of Mars assumed to be like ours · Blue tint near melting snow the only evidence of water · Fallacy of this argument · Dr. Johnstone Stoney's proof that water-vapour cannot exist on Mars · Spectroscope gives no evidence of water.
Chapter V. Temperature of Mars: Mr. Lowell's Estimate
Problem of terrestrial temperature · Ice under recent lava · Tropical oceans ice-cold at bottom · Earth's surface-heat all from the sun · Absolute zero of temperature · Complex problem of planetary temperatures · Mr. Lowell's investigation of the problem · Abstract of Mr. Lowell's paper · Critical remarks on Mr. Lowell's paper.
Chapter VI. A New Estimate of the Temperature of Mars
Langley's determination of lunar heat · Rapid loss of heat by radiation on the earth · Rapid loss of heat on moon during eclipse · Sir George Darwin's theory of the moon's origin · Very's researches on the moon's temperature · Application of these results to the case of Mars · Cause of great difference of temperatures of earth and moon · Special features of Mars influencing its temperature · Further criticism of Mr. Lowell's article · Very low temperature of arctic regions on Mars
Chapter VII. A Suggestion as to the 'Canals' of Mars
Special features of the canals · Mr. Pickering's suggested explanation · The meteoritic hypotheses of origin of planets · Probable mode of origin of Mars · Structural straight lines on the earth · Probable origin of the surface-features of Mars · Symmetry of basaltic columns · How this applies to Mars · Suggested explanation of the oases · Probable function of the great fissures · Suggested origin of blue patches adjacent to snow-caps · The double canals · Concluding remarks on the canals
