338 



NA TURE 



[September i6, 1909 



safe to assume that not only water-vapour, but oxygen 

 also, exists in the Martian atmosphere. 



Thus we arrive at the present opposition with the 

 knowledge that a familiar compound, capable of 

 forming snowcaps, of filling canals, and of being 

 pumped in order to irrigate the pastures of a thirsty 

 landscape, exists on Mars, and is accompanied by 

 that element which we terrestrians look upon as 

 another essential for the existence of animal life; and 

 crucial difficulties in the " habitability " theory have 

 been removed. Close, persistent, and world-wide 

 scrutiny, at this favourable epoch, should lead to 

 further elucidation of the enigma, and enable us to 

 " reconstruct " a being and a vegetation capable of 

 existing there. 



An idea which has caught the popular fancy is that 

 of signalling to Mars, but as the earth, from the 

 planet, would be in the glare of the sun and w'ould 

 subtend, even at the impossible moment of opposition, 

 an angle of less than 50" — of the same order as the 

 apparent diameter of Jupiter at his recent opposition — 

 to say nothing of the questionable transparency of our 

 thicker atmosphere, this problem has not yet entered 

 the province of practical astronomy. 



William E. Rolston. 



POLAR EXPEDITIONS AND OBSERVATIONS. 



THE position and prospects of polar exploration 

 have been given great attention in the daily 

 Press during the last few days. No precise informa- 

 tion as to Dr. Cook's journey to the North Pole has 

 yet been published, but the general narrative of Com- 

 mander Peary's expedition leaves little room for 

 doubt that Commander Peary readied the neighbour- 

 hood of the pole, and probably the pole itself, though 

 an element of uncertainty must exist until his observa- 

 tions for latitude are examined critically. The Berlin 

 correspondent of the Times reports that an executive 

 committee for a Zeppelin polar expedition has been 

 formed, the object of the expedition being defined as 

 " the scientific investigation by means of the dirigible 

 airship of the unknown Polar Arctic Sea and the 

 development of the dirigible airship for the carrying 

 out of scientific labours." Announcement has also 

 just been made that a British Antarctic expedition 

 will start next August under Captain R. F. Scott, 

 who commanded the National Antarctic Expedition of 

 1900-4, with the object of reaching the South Pole. 



As all the world knows, Mr. Shackleton's record of 

 this year has given Great Britain the premier position 

 in Antarctic exploration, and an earnest desire is felt 

 by British explorers to place to the credit of this 

 country the feat of first reaching the South Pole. 

 McMurdo Sound has in the past been used as the 

 base for British South Polar expeditions, but it is 

 proposed on the next journey to establish a second 

 base in King Edward VII. Land, 400 miles to the 

 east of McMurdo Sound. The track to the pole from 

 the new base may be expected to include phases 

 similar to those met with in travelling from McMurdo 

 Sound, but it is anticipated it will continue longer on 

 the sea-level, meet the mountains nearer the pole, and 

 consequently leave a shorter journey on the high 

 inland plateau. The distance to be covered is in all 

 some 1500 miles, for which 150 days are available. 

 The plan for the journey to the pole from King 

 Edward VII. Land includes the use of three means of 

 sledge traction : ponies, a dog team with a relay of 

 men, and motor sledges. 



The scientific objects of Captain Scott's expedition 

 are stated to be as follows : — (i) Geographical. — To 

 explore King Edward VII. Land, to throw further light 

 on the nature and extent of the great Barrier ice 



NO. 2081, VOL, 81] 



formation, and to continue the survey of the high 

 mountainous region of Victoria Land. (2) Geological. 

 — To examine the entirely unknown region of King 

 Edward VII. Land and continue the survey of the rock& 

 of Victoria Land. (3) Meteorological. — To obtain, 

 synchronous observations at two fixed stations, as well 

 as the weather records of sledge journeys. (4)- 

 Magnetic. — To duplicate the records of the elements 

 made by the Discovery expedition with magneto- 

 graphs. The comparison should throw most im- 

 portant light on secular. changes. (5) Miscellaneous. — 

 In addition, attention will be paid to the study of 

 marine biology at both stations and in the ship, and. 

 the examination of physical phenomena will be con- 

 tinued. 



It is estimated that an expedition of the kind pro- 

 jected will cost at least 40,oooL, and towards this 

 sum considerable amounts have been given already. 

 .Vn appeal has been made to the public, and it is hoped 

 that no difficulty will be experienced in raising the 

 necessary money for the accomplishment of what will 

 in any case include valuable scientific work. 



The full narrative of Commander Peary's expedi- 

 tion to the North Pole appeared in the Times of Sep- 

 tember II and 13, and occupied six columns. By per- 

 mission of the editor we are able to give a summary 

 of this account of the journey and the observations 

 made. The expedition left Etah, Greenland, on 

 August 18, 1908, in the Roosevelt, having on board 

 22 Eskimo men, 17 women, 236 dogs, and about 

 40 walrus. Cape Sheridan was reached on September 

 5 and winter quarters were established there. Sledge- 

 loads of supplies were then taken to Cape Belknap,. 

 Porter Bay and other stages up to Cape Columbia, 

 where Prof. McMillan obtained a month of tidal 

 observations during November and December. Tidal 

 and meteorological observations were also made at 

 Cape Bryant, and explorations were carried on. 



The expedition started for the north from Cape 

 Columbia in several divisions at the end of February 

 of this year. Latitude 83° 20' was passed on March 2, 

 and on March 5 " the sun, red and shaped like a 

 football by refraction, just laised itself above the 

 horizon for a few minutes and then disappeared 

 again." The lead, or creek of open water, which was 

 then reached, prevented further movement until March 

 II, when it was frozen and a start became practicable. 

 The depth of the lead was determined by soundings to 

 be no fathoms. On March 14 the lead had been 

 passed, and the temperature was —58° (?) F. Two 

 days later Prof. McMillan had to be sent back to Cape 

 Columbia at once on account of frostbite. " Sounding 

 gave a depth of 825 fathoms. We were over the 

 Continental Shelf, and as I had surmised, the succes- 

 sive leads crossed in the fifth and sixth marches 

 composed the big lead and marked the Continental 

 Shelf." 



By an admirable system of advance, main and sup- 

 porting parties, the expedition moved rapidly north, 

 covering no fewer than fifty minutes of latitude (about 

 57 miles) in three marches. The fourth supporting 

 party started on the back trail from about latitude 88°, 

 and on April 2 Commander Peary, with his party of 

 Eskimos, moved towards the pole. 



In a march of about ten hours the party travelled 

 twenty-five miles and was well beyond the S8th 

 parallel, " with the sun now practically horizontal." 

 Several long marches w-ere accomplished, and one of 

 forty miles in twelve hours. In four days, two degrees 

 of latitude were covered, that is, a distance of about 138 

 miles. On the last stage of the journey Com- 

 mander Peary's only companion was an Eskimo. 

 .i^n observation made on April 6 showed that the 

 latitude was 89° 57', so that the pole had been prac- 



