Liquid Water on Mars

Liquid Water on Mars

To carry liquid water from the melting polar caps to the equatorial regions of Mars, the melting surface and subsurface ice would be transported by a great canal network. This is precisely what Percivall Lowell, a hundred years ago, mistakenly proposed was in fact happening on Mars. Lowell and Wallace both understood that the comparative inhospitability of Mars was due to the scarcity of water.If only a network of canals existed, the lack would be remedied and the habitability of Mars would become plausible.

Lowell’s observations were made under extremely difficult seeing conditions. Others, like Schiaparelly had already observed something like the canals; they were called canali before Lowell began his lifelong love affair with Mars. Human beings have a demonstrated talent for self-deception when their emotions are stirred, and there are few notions more stirring than the idea of a neighboring planet inhabited by intelligent beings.

One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant as any star. (Gilbert K. Chesterton). Illustration : © Elena