Show PLANET MARS IS BEING OBSERVED DARK SPOTS ON MARS INDICATE GROWTH AREAS SAY SC SCIENTISTS Evidence of Expansion In Possible Vegetation Fields Disclosed as Planet Swings Into New Angle Lowell Observatory Flagstaff Ar Ar- izona Tremendous Tremendous growth in two dark areas near the equator of Mars that a month ago were comparatively faint was noted by observers at I I Lowell observatory The regions have been on the back backof of the planet until the last few days and therefore were not observable in their entirety but Tuesday night they swung into a wider view and presented graphic evidence of the expansion expansion ex ex- ex pans ion in them that has taken place since rince the spring season began in th tha Maritan southern hemisphere Glowing a faint green blue in of shimmering atmospheric conditions conditions conditions condi condi- which temporarily hampered observations they suggest the Lowell hool of Maritan astronomers believe believe be be- lieve it possible t T be expanses be-expanses expanses of vegetation Offhand estimates showed their areas to be more than 1 square miles They average about miles across and reached nearly three-fourths three of the way across the disk of or the planet Scientifically the regions are known as Mare and Mare The name Mare Latin for sea was applied before it was discovered that Mars 1 has no an n h u VL vu Reduced to more understandable forms forms the combined areas cover more than acres This would raise more than bushels bush els of wheat even if the crops were bad This is only a fantastic illustration however as no one knows vs what firm vegetation on Mars if there is any vegetation has taken in the process of evolution through the ages Since first noted this year ear the tilting of the thc planet on its axis has brought these regions legions more directly under the rays of the sun th the declination declination declination de de- de- de or position of the sun south of the planet equal or having in increased increased increased creased from about fourteen and one one- half to twenty-three twenty and three three- fourths degrees On the earth this action brings about seasonal change causing the growth of vegetation and melting to a certain extent of polar snowcaps It is believed at Lowell observatory observatory observatory tory that this probably is what is taking place on Mars for in addition to the apparent growth of the vegetal regions the southern pol polar r snowcap is slowly but surely disappearing as the suns sun's rays beat upon it across miles of space |