The Planet Mars by Augusta Wolcott Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 31, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 12.

The Planet Mars

By Augusta Wolcott Heald

In Fine Position for Observation Now—May It Be Inhabited?—God's Expressed Purpose in Creating the Worlds

By AUGUSTA WOLCOTT HEALD

THE orbit of Mars being next to that of earth, we take a most lively interest in him, as our nearest planetary neighbor. This is a very favorable time for observing him, as he has within a few weeks made his nearest approach to the earth,—about fifty millions of miles,—while at his greatest distance he is about two hundred and fifty millions of miles from us.

VERY ERRATIC

Astronomers say that the motions of Mars are very erratic, so that he may truly be called a wanderer, as the word "planet" signifies. This season we have had a good opportunity to watch his antics. He appeared in Taurus, scarcely one degree from Saturn; after a long period of cloudy nights, we next discovered him in Gemini, in a direct line below Castor and Pollux, making a most singular appearance in that constellation. He has since been retrograding in Gemini, constantly changing position, and with his glowing red color, is a most beautiful object in the evening sky.

Mars journeys about the sun in six hundred eighty-seven days. His daily rotation is performed in twenty-four hours, thirty-nine minutes, thus making his day a little longer than ours. He has as satellites two tiny moons, which revolve very rapidly about him. They are called Deimos and Phobos, and are only about ten miles in diameter.

CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO THE EARTH

The apparent conditions on Mars are more similar to those on our earth than are those of any other planet. Many conjectures are rife as to whether this world, which occupies the place next to ours in the solar system, may not also be the abode of intelligent beings. Some have thought they could distinguish signal lights, and others dream of establishing connection by means of modern inventions. These ideas seem most visionary, while the present order of the age continues, and such speculations are unsatisfying to most people.

ARE OTHER SPHERES INHABITED?

While this is true, there is yet nothing to forbid the thought that other spheres may be inhabited. There is a passage in the inspired Word which sheds light on this subject: "Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited." Isa. 45:18. The questions may well arise, Has God created anything in vain? Is our small planet the only world the Creator has formed to be inhabited?—Most assuredly, No.

The Lord spoke to one of old, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth, . . . when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job 38:4, 7.

Before our earth was spoken into existence, or ever man was formed in the image of God, there were holy, intelligent beings in His universe, rendering homage to the great Creator, rejoicing in the work of His hands. We, as inhabitants of this lower sphere, are permitted, through redeeming grace, to join the universal song of sinless beings, and with them to ascribe glory and honor and praise to the great Author of all good, Maker of heaven and earth and all the starry host.