Page 11 - (DK) Eyewitness - Mars

Canal theories

Late in the 19th century, astronomers studying
Mars argued bitterly about what they saw in their
telescopes. Amateur astronomer Percival Lowell
declared there were canals on Mars built by
“intelligent beings.” Other observers also saw
vast, blue Martian seas. Using one of the most
powerful telescopes of the day, leading American
astronomer Edward E. Barnard found no canals or
seas on Mars. He did, however, see high mountains
and great plateaus. Scientific research has since
proven Barnard was right.
Lowell believed
this was water ice
THE MARTIAN MAPS OF SCHIAPARELLI
When he began studying Mars in 1877, Giovanni Schiaparelli Dark areas:
(1835–1910) was director of the observatory in Milan, Italy. possible vegetation
Schiaparelli was convinced he could see waterways—canali,
in Italian. He drew maps of what he saw, persuading many
astronomers there were canals on Mars.

SCHIAPARELLI’S NAMES
Committed to mapping Mars
completely, Schiaparelli
worked long nights at his
telescope. He labeled the
regions and natural
features, using Latin and
Greek names. Some were
from The Odyssey and
Herodotus, and some
were from the Bible.
Schiaparelli’s names
became accepted by
future Mars astronomers.

Lines in Lowell’s
map show where he
believed he saw Martian canals
EDWARD E. BARNARD
A pioneer in celestial
photography, American
Edward E. Barnard
(1857–1923) was the
leading observational
astronomer of his time.
Using the great 36-inch
(91 cm) telescope at
California’s Lick
Observatory in 1894,
Barnard studied Mars.
He was convinced there
were no canals—
neither natural ones
nor canals constructed
by Martian beings.
LOWELL’S OBSERVATORY
American Percival Lowell (1855–1916), pictured in 1900, studies Mars at
the superb observatory he built in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell believed Mars
was much like Earth, with water, vegetation, and an atmosphere that
humans could breathe. He drew maps, above right, of Martian canals.