The Planet Mars

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 22.

It is only about once in fifteen years that Mars comes as near as 36,000,000 miles. Its orbit is so eccentric that the interval between it and the orbit of the earth varies all the way from 36,000,000 miles to 61,000,000; and it is only now and then that, as the two planets circle round in their respective tracks, the passing point is where the tracks come nearest. The last instance of a very close approach was in 1877; the next will be in 1892. Mars is much smaller than the earth, its diameter being only about 4,200 miles. Its bulk, therefore, is only about one-seventh, and its surface about three-tenths of the earth's.—Selected.