Astronomy 2021A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Giovanni Schiaparelli, Allan Hills 84001, Robotic Spacecraft

• School: Western University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: Astronomy 2021A/B
• Professor: Martin Zinke- Allmang

Document Summary

English astronomer, best known for discovering the planet uranus. Made numerous astronomical discoveries with his sister caroline herschel. The hers(cid:272)hel"s o(cid:271)ser(cid:448)ed mars through their teles(cid:272)opes, (cid:374)oti(cid:374)g polar i(cid:272)e (cid:272)aps a(cid:374)d discovering that the length of its day (24 hrs, 37 min) is similar to earth. 1784: claimed mars possessed an atmosphere and spoke of its inhabitants. The possibility of living beings on mars had been broached by a respected scientist. Claimed to have seen a network of 79 linear features called canali (channels) Believed in the martian canals (inspired by schiaparelli) Inspired visions of artificial waterways built by a martian civilization. Imagined the canals were built to carry water from the poles to agricultural areas and thirsty cities nearer the equator. The canals convinced lowell that the martians were citizens of a single, global nation. Was an effective advocate for the canals, but they do not really exist. Suggested that mars is too cold for liquid water to flow.