Problem of the "Canals"
Within the next few days the much-discussed planet Mars will make its nearest approach to the earth since 1911, says the "Morning Post" of April 19. On Wednesday {April 21), it will be in opposition to the sun, when its distance from the earth will be 54,5.0,00 miles, but the actual nearest' approach will take place a week later, when 54,130,000 miles will separate us. When wear opposition Mars is best seen from the earth, and remains above the horizon from sunset to sunrise, being at its highest altitude about midnight, when it is almost due south. Oppositions of Mars occur at intervals of about 26 months, but owing to the elliptical shape of its orbit amd that of the earth. che opposition distance is subject to big variations, being sometimes as much as 63,000,000 miles, and at others barely 34,000,000 miles.
Though the present apposition is not one of the best, astronomers all over the world will be busy observing and photographing it in the hope that they may help forward the solution of some of the many tantalising problems suggested since the Italian astronomer Schiaparelli, during the very close opposition of Mars in September, 1877, announced the existence of the markings on the planet which many are now convinced are evidences of artificial waterways constructed by a race of intelligent beings.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.