![]() Spectroscopy played an important role in our understanding of the composition of the heavens. This work led to the ability to read the light spectrum coming from objects in the heavens as a kind of chemical fingerprint, identifying the makeup of objects in space. In 1859 Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen had made significant advances in studying dark spots in the spectrum of light that came off burning different chemicals. ![]() One of the key arguments for oceans on Mars came from the developing technique of spectroscopy. Maps of Martian oceans were not just based on telescope observations. Alongside the arguments embedded in how Mars was mapped came arguments for Martian oceans tied to studies of the light reflected off the planet. Light Spectra and the Martian OceansĪfter explaining the spectrum of light from Mars in Flowers in the Sky (1874) astronomer Richard Proctor suggested " There must, therefore, be seas on Mars External" (175). Presentations of the geography of Mars made it seem all the more likely that it was an inhabited world. Looking at a map like this suggests to a reader that the oceans of Mars are a fact. When astronomer and popular author Richard Proctor presented a map of Mars illustrating its oceans and continents he wanted readers to think of Earth's continents and oceans. The decisions that go into how to draw a map confer considerable authority onto the ideas presented in the map. Between these books, how early maps of Mars were drawn and various interpretations of the light coming off the planet many scientists and astronomer's believed that Mars had oceans or seas. Throughout these works Flammarion devotes considerable discussion to the amount of water and ice on Mars. English translations of books, like The wonders of the heavens (1871) and Astronomy for amateurs (1904) helped to disseminate his ideas. His ideas about life on Mars also made their way into his popular astronomy books. His book La pluralité des mondes habités (The Plurality of Inhabited Worlds, 1862 ) brought considerable attention to the idea. The Plurality of Inhabited Worldsīy the 1860's the idea of life on other worlds had become particularly popular in the works of French author and astronomer Camille Flammarion. If the planets were places like earth, this line of reasoning suggested that a creator would have put life there like he did here. Much of this work was grounded in the notion of teleology, that everything in nature serves a purpose in a divine design. As that picture came into focus, similarities between Mars and Earth, and in particular the belief that dark portions of the planet were oceans, lead many to speculate about the possibility of life on the planet.įor example, in Celestial scenery or, The wonders of the planetary system displayed (1838) astronomer Thomas Dick suggested that "There is land and water analogues to those on our globe" and further that, "from the size of the dark spots, about one third or one fourth of the surface of that planet is covered with water." Based on this evidence he suggests, "respecting the physical and moral state of the beings that inhabit it, we might be apt to conclude that they are in a condition not altogether very different from that of inhabitants of our globe" (p.139). Our image of Mars developed along with advancements in the quality of our instruments to study it. In the 1830s many astronomers believed Mars, the other planets, and even the sun, were inhabited. ![]() This was not simply a colorful turn of phrase. Mars Presumed InhabitedĪn 1831 astronomy textbook, The Young Astronomer, explained, "To the people who live on Mars, this earth probably appears larger than Mars does to us" (27). Understanding the history of the arguments around that possibility offers insight into how evidence and authority work in scientific reasoning and argumentation. We know now that there is no intelligent life on Mars. Later, observations of canals and apparent straight lines on the surface of Mars seemed to offer evidence of intelligent life and civilizations on the planet. As we'll see the initial excitement fades as science begins to cast doubt on the possibility of life on our planetary neighbor.Īs astronomers charted the features of the red planet, many believed they were seeing oceans that confirmed ideas about the likelihood of life on Mars. Did you know that in the 19th century it was widely believed that the other planets in our solar system were likely inhabited? At the same time, the quality of telescopes was rapidly increasing, making it possible for astronomers to see and sketch the incredible details of the geography of Mars. ![]()
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