The History of Mars

The History of Observations of Mars In The 20th Century

Date

Event

1906 Mars and its Canals published, Percival Lowell.

1906 Earl C. Slipher arrives at Lowell Observatory and continues his photographic studies.

1907 "...the proof by astronomical observations...that conscious, intelligent human life exists upon the planet Mars," reported as (one of) the most momentous events of 1907 by the Wall Street Journal.

1908 Mars as the Abode of Life published, Percival Lowell.

1909 George Ellery Haleusing using the Mt. Wilson 60" reflector, sees "...not a trace" of canals.

1911 A Princess of Mars, first of eleven "John Carter on Mars" novels, published by Edgar Rice Burroughs (uses Schiaparelli nomenclature; Martians have green skin).

1914 Panama Canal completed.

1926 Large day/night temperature difference (implication of thin atmosphere) measured by William Weber Coblentz and Carl Otto Lampland.

1930 Attempts to detect oxygen on Mars fail.

10/30 1938
"War of the Worlds" broadcast by Orson Welles (Grovers Mill, New Jersey landings). Estimates that 1.2 million, of the 6 million, listeners thought it was a real invasion.

1947 Carbon dioxide, but no oxygen, detected by Gerard Peter Kuiper

1947 "Mars Project"(10 ships, 70 crewmembers) proposed by Werner von Braun.

1962 von Braun considers the "Mars Project" to be 15-20 years away.

1965 NASA Sourcebook on Space Sciences: most astronomers would probably agree that there are apparently linear markings...of considerable length on the surface of Mars.

7/14/1965 Mariner 4 flyby, discovers craters on Mars and little else

A look at all of the Martian related space missions in the past 35 years

Date	Event
1906	Mars and its Canals published, Percival Lowell.
1906	Earl C. Slipher arrives at Lowell Observatory and continues his photographic studies.
1907	"...the proof by astronomical observations...that conscious, intelligent human life exists upon the planet Mars," reported as (one of) the most momentous events of 1907 by the Wall Street Journal.
1908	Mars as the Abode of Life published, Percival Lowell.
1909	George Ellery Haleusing using the Mt. Wilson 60" reflector, sees "...not a trace" of canals.
1911	A Princess of Mars, first of eleven "John Carter on Mars" novels, published by Edgar Rice Burroughs (uses Schiaparelli nomenclature; Martians have green skin).
1914	Panama Canal completed.
1926	Large day/night temperature difference (implication of thin atmosphere) measured by William Weber Coblentz and Carl Otto Lampland.
1930	Attempts to detect oxygen on Mars fail.
10/30 1938	"War of the Worlds" broadcast by Orson Welles (Grovers Mill, New Jersey landings). Estimates that 1.2 million, of the 6 million, listeners thought it was a real invasion.
1947	Carbon dioxide, but no oxygen, detected by Gerard Peter Kuiper
1947	"Mars Project"(10 ships, 70 crewmembers) proposed by Werner von Braun.
1962	von Braun considers the "Mars Project" to be 15-20 years away.
1965	NASA Sourcebook on Space Sciences: most astronomers would probably agree that there are apparently linear markings...of considerable length on the surface of Mars.
7/14/1965	Mariner 4 flyby, discovers craters on Mars and little else
A look at all of the Martian related space missions in the past 35 years