Hi, you might have read my thread about the lights of Saturn 1889 yesterday and I'm still reading old Swedish newspapers and found something else I got curious about and since I got interesting and informative answers the last time around, I'd like to bother you with this as well.This was published in "Tidningen Kalmar" on January 2 1901 and again I've done my best attempt at translating it into English:"The latest revelation in the world of astronomy is according to Wilfred de Fonvelle a message from planet Mars, recieved on December 8 at the observatory in Flagstaff, Arziona. It was seen my br Douglas, a known astronomer who has made many important observatios.The incident was reported to the astronomical central bureau in Kiel through a telegram signed by Perkering, director of the observatory at Harvard College. The bureau in Kiel sent the message to all the observatories in the world. The observatory in Paris mentioned the telegram in their "depesch room" (my remark: dont know what this is but I think its the "press room".).A few days later it was published in the astronomy magazine "Nature" and in "Astronomishe Nachrichten". And consequently, writes a foreign newspaper, it is no longer necessay to be silent about the thing.For many years the astronomers have been convinced that Mars is populated by creatures, with a very high civilization. Mars surfac is covered by dark spots, presumed to be very large lakes. One of these, close to the first meridian, got the same size as France and have been named the "Icarian Sea".It was while Douglas was observing this sea he noticed a strange phenomenon. A row of bright lights showed itself over a straight line, many hundred kilometers long. These giant fires burned cotinously for one hour and ten minutes, and then disappeared as quickly as they arrived. From observations, says de Fonvelle, we know that the light never moves geometrically. The straight line of the lights thus indicates that the lights were a voluntary action.If these light phenomenons really are signals should soon be known, since Mars is observed so meticulously that a repeat of these signals definitely would be seen. Mars is currently moving towards its "opposition" of Earth, which will occur on February 22, giving us another opportunity to study the interesting planet under conditions as good as on the 8th of December. In case the population of Mars really lit these fires, we should definitely let them now that we have understood their intentions, and that we count on them - with their superior intelligence - to create a special alphabet to be used for themselves and us."I generally dont do assumptions but I'm guessing there is some level of probability that this was not really a message from Mars, but I'm still curious about this light phenomena, what it could have been and if something similar have been observed later? via /r/space https://ift.tt/2V8ewcF April 15, 2020 at 05:03AM