Life on Mars

Life on Mars

Mars is the most Earth like place in our solar system so it is only natural to wonder if the similarities extend to the existence of life. People have speculated about the possibility of life on Mars for centuries astronomers have obtain fueled the speculation that life may exist on Mars.

 The 19th Century Italian astronomer Glovanni Virginio Schiaparelli (1835-1910) reported seeing long straight channels on Mars. Some astronomers also reported seeing evidence for seasonal colour changes on Mars that could be interpreted as evidence for vegetation.  Americanastronomer Lowell   Percival (1855-1916) and some other astronomers of the early 20th century believed that the candles indicated the existence of an advanced Civilization on Mars.

Lowell proposed that the canal a planetary-scale irrigation project, carrying water from the weight polar regions to the dry equatorial deserts. However, the idea of canals on Mars began to get doubtful with improved telescopes. Close-Up images of Mars from the Mariner spacecraft finally proved the idea wrong. Scientist now know that windblown dust causes the colour changes and that the canals are no more than an optical illusion caused by the limitations of human eyesight at the telescope.

 The idea of life on Mars got a dublous boost from photos released on 24 January 2008 of the surface of Mars taken by the spirit Rover. It apparently show the human like figure. It was accurately a small piece of Rock blown up to give appearance of a human figure. This phenomenon is called pareidolia in psychology, where we obtain see focus in cloud and coffee stains.

 A growing number of scientists still believe that some from of life could exist on Mars. Spacecrafts are still being sent to Mars in search for direct evidence of past present life.