Is Mars Habitable?
Gelesen von Caliban
Alfred Russel Wallace
In 1907 Wallace wrote the short book Is Mars Habitable? to criticize the claims made by Percival Lowell that there were Martian canals built by intelligent beings. Wallace did months of research, consulted various experts, and produced his own scientific analysis of the martian climate and atmospheric conditions. Among other things Wallace pointed out that spectroscopic analysis had shown no signs of water vapour in the Martian atmosphere, that Lowell's analysis of Mars's climate was seriously flawed and badly overestimated the surface temperature, and that low atmospheric pressure would make liquid water, let alone a planet girding irrigation system, impossible. (from Wikipedia) (3 hr 1 min)
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Happy Centennial!
Caliban_the_reader
Forgive a reader for posting his own praises. But this is more about the celebration of Wallace than anything else. Please note that Oct of 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of this publication. A well reasoned and painstaking made argument against the fanciful ravings of Percival Lowell. The fact that 100 years later there are those who are still accusing NASA of concealing the "Face on Mars" says something about the power of Myth and the human condition in general. Just what I have no particular idea ... Caliban
Lots of food for thought
MollyD
Interesting stuff, this, and only a little of it is discredited by what we know today.
A book that was way ahead of its time
lanternland
Mr Caliban is an excellent reader, precise and and professorial.
Well read and interesting
Timothy Ferguson
Amazing what was observable and deducible with such primitve equipment.