The Planet Mars: A History of Observation & DiscoveryIn this timely and vividly written account, William Sheehan traces human fascination with Mars back to the naked-eye observers of the planet. He recalls the early telescopic observers who first made out enigmatic markings and polar caps on its surface. Through lively historical anecdotes, he describes in detail the debate over the so-called canals of Mars, which encouraged speculation that the planet might be inhabited. Finally, Sheehan describes more recent theories about the planet, leading up to the present, when unmanned spacecraft have enabled us to make giant strides in exploration. Well documented and sparked with human interest, this book will be a useful companion and guide in interpreting the barrage of headlines about Mars that is sure to come over the next few years. Amateurs will appreciate the contributions that have been made to Martian studies by people like themselves, and professionals will find much original material that has never before been published. |
Contents
Pioneers | 16 |
Areographers | 42 |
Confirmations and Controversies | 79 |
7 | 93 |
8 | 105 |
ΙΟ | 130 |
Spacecraft to Mars 162 | 146 |
Vikingsand Beyond | 186 |
Observing Mars | 210 |
Other editions - View all
The Planet Mars: A History of Observation and Discovery William Sheehan,Jim Bell Limited preview - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
albedo appeared Archives Astronomical Society Barnard Beer and Mädler bright British Astronomical Association Camille Flammarion canals carbon dioxide Cassini clouds color craters dark areas Dawes diameter discovery disk distance drawings of Mars dust storm E. E. Barnard E. M. Antoniadi Earth Elysium Flagstaff Flammarion G. V. Schiaparelli Hellas Herschel Huygens Ibid images impact Kepler kilometers lander later Lick Observatory Lowell Observatory Lowell's Mariner 9 markings Mars's Martian atmosphere Martian canals Martian surface Meudon millibars Moon motion night northern observations of Mars orbit patches Percival Lowell perihelic opposition Phobos photographs pianeta Marte Pickering planet planetary planète Mars Planitia Popular Astronomy reflector refractor region rotation period satellites Schroeter seas seasonal Secchi seemed seen Sinus Sabaeus solar Solis Lacus south polar cap southern hemisphere spacecraft spots stars Syrtis Major telescope temperature Tharsis tion Tycho Venus Viking volcanic water vapor wrote