Abstract
COLOURS ON THE SURFACE OF MARS.—During the last opposition of Mars a series of observations was made by Prof. Pickering with the object of determining the general colour of this planet's disk, and that of the various markings distributed over its surface. In a preliminary account of this work which he has contributed to the June number of Astronomy and Astro-Physics, we are made acquainted with some of the observed facts, which will be read with keen interest, as we are nearing a time when like observations can be repeated. The instruments used were the 12-inch and 15-inch at Cambridge, and the 13-inch at Arequipa, Peru. With the two former sixty paintings were made, together with sixty-six uncoloured drawings, and with the latter some of the more recent observations were undertaken. The general light from the planet, although usually termed ruddy, was found to lie about midway between that of a candle and electric light of equal brilliancy, being somewhat bluer than the former and redder than the latter.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Our Astronomical Column. Nature 46, 179 (1892). https://doi.org/10.1038/046179a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/046179a0