In the 1830s many astronomers believed Mars, the other planets, and even the sun, were inhabited. This was not simply a colorful turn of phrase. Mars Presumed InhabitedĪn 1831 astronomy textbook, The Young Astronomer, explained, "To the people who live on Mars, this earth probably appears larger than Mars does to us" (27). Understanding the history of the arguments around that possibility offers insight into how evidence and authority work in scientific reasoning and argumentation. We know now that there is no intelligent life on Mars. Later, observations of canals and apparent straight lines on the surface of Mars seemed to offer evidence of intelligent life and civilizations on the planet. As we'll see the initial excitement fades as science begins to cast doubt on the possibility of life on our planetary neighbor.Īs astronomers charted the features of the red planet, many believed they were seeing oceans that confirmed ideas about the likelihood of life on Mars. Did you know that in the 19th century it was widely believed that the other planets in our solar system were likely inhabited? At the same time, the quality of telescopes was rapidly increasing, making it possible for astronomers to see and sketch the incredible details of the geography of Mars.
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