Astronomy: General

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences A Dictionary of Astronomy Further reading

martian canals

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Copyright

martian canals (‘canali’) Optical illusions, produced by telescopic viewing of Mars with a resolution of poorer than about 100 km, first reported by Schiaparelli (‘canali’ is the Italian for ‘channels’) and especially championed by Percival Lowell (1855–1916). These observers produced maps of the martian surface showing interconnected networks of canals, implying the presence of intelligent life on Mars. The intelligence which devised the canals was, however, on the terrestrial side of the telescope.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "martian canals." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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canals, Martian

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

canals, Martian Supposed dark, straight lines on the surface of Mars seen through telescopes from Earth. They were first seen by G. V.Schiaparelli in 1877, and were reported by others until the 1960s when close-up pictures of Mars from the Mariner probes demonstrated them to be illusions. Early in the 20th century, P.Lowell and others considered the canals to be evidence for an advanced Martian civilization.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Martians everywhere! Magazine article from: The Evening Standard (London, England); 5/1/2003
	Are there thick as two planks Martians ?(Column) Newspaper article from: Daily Mail (London); 8/12/1996
	MY MARTIAN LOVE AFFAIR; Volcanoes the size of France. Canyons 2,000 miles... Newspaper article from: Daily Mail (London); 11/18/2004