10
MARS? THEORIES AND PROBABILITIES OF LIFE ON THE PLANET
The Soviet Space programme for future years includes investigations of Mars and Venus. There are so many unknowns about these planets. Scientists say that it is impossible to make definite plans until a great deal more is revealed by instruments. Today Soviet scientists are studying closely every kind of theory that has ever been published about Mars and Venus. One of the most interesting problems about Mars is whether life exists or doesn't on the planet.
Typical is the support for the most starting theory about Mars that it has two big artificial satellites in orbit around it put there by beings who are, or were, far more advanced than us, scientifically.
Professor I. S. Shklovsky, physics and mathematics expert, is quite certain about this. He bases his belief on new evidence that the two satellitesplainly visible to observatorieswere not in existence more than one hundred years ago. Called Phobos and Deimos (Fear and Terror) they were discovered in 1877 by an American astronomer, Hall.
Phobos is in orbit at a distance of about 6,000 km. from Mars and completes one revolution of its mother planet every 7 hours 39 minutes.
Deimos moves in a circular orbit with a radius of 23,500 km. and circuits in 30 hours 18 minutes. Both move in the plane of the Martian equator.
They are approximately sixteen and eight kilometres acrossthe smallest satellites of any known planet. "And this is just about all we know of them", says Shklovsky.
What makes them so interesting?"Firstly" he says, "their size and proximity to their planet; an absolutely unique phenomenon in our solar system is that the period of revolution of Phobos is shorter than that of its own parent Mars". The scientists don't know how to explain the origin of these two. If we think, for instance, that they are asteroids, accidentally "captured" by Mars, then why are they moving in circular orbits lying precisely on the equatorial plane?
An American astronomer Sharpies discovered in 1945 that Phobos had changed its position.
Deviation from its proper orbit was as much as 2.5 (degrees) a sensational finding. It means that Phobos drew nearer to the surface of Mars.
This is exactly the behaviour of the artificial satellites of the Earth, atmospheric resistance slows up their movement, they progressively descend and at the same time their speed is accelerated.
The changes in the nature of movement are so great that we can confidently say that we are witnessing the slow agony of a celestial body. It means that in just 15 million years Phobos will fall on Mars, astronomically speaking, this is a very short period indeed.
The assumption that Phobos is hollow inside is a cosmic impossibility.
Shklovsky believes that Phobos is not a natural creation but an artificial satellite, and so, probably, is Deimos.
Then it is known, for example, that asteroids whose size in some cases is much bigger than Phobos and Deimos, are not as a rule round, for they are mostly odd-shaped fragments of rock. Their revolution in space around a centre of gravity produces changes in appearance to the scientists and astronomer in an observatory; sometimes they are very bright, sometimes very dark, according to which surface is visible. If the brightness of Mars' satellites should prove constant, it would confirm their spherical shape. A constant watch is being kept on the strange cosmic twins by some of.the most efficient observatories in the Soviet Union.
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One thing that Earth telescopes will never see, however, is whether life exists on Mars itselfthat much loved theory of science fiction writers.
Professor G. Tikhov in lectures and scientific papers challenged the beliefs of Sir James Jeans who denied the-existence of life anywhere else except on Earth. Tikhov as a scientist in astrobiology showed, that even on earth there are plants which have adapted themselves to a lack of oxygen and some even can live on ammonia gas. Tikhov and his pupils demonstrated that the optical properties of the Martian "seas" bear a great resemblance to earth plants living in hard climatic conditions.
The famous canals discovered in 1877 by an Italian scientist Schiaparelli and the theory of canals developed by the American Lowell offer a lot for the intelligence of scientists.
There are many breathtaking assumptions about life on Mars: In 1952 astronomers suddenly discovered an unfamiliar green patch on Marsa new "sea". This odd formation darkens every year, though it stays the same shape, in 1937, 1951, 1954 curious, brilliant point flashes on Mars' surface were observed. It is hard to guess what they represent.
And then the Tungus mystery!
This was an unexplained, gigantic explosion in Siberia in 1908. Theories were at once put forward that the cause was a visit from another planet by a space-ship. To support this, it was claimed that the soil in the area remained radioactive, though no trace of meteorites had been found. Many fantastic novels were written on this subject. However, an expedition in the summer of 1960 definitely proved that the explosion was caused by a comet colliding with the Earth.
So the idea of existence of life on Mars is taken seriously by many scientists, such ideas are being discussed in lecture rooms and scientific forums, on pages of scientific books and in science fiction and stimulate interest in people who believe in existence of other highly civilized communities.
II. :
1 investigations of Mars 6 proper orbit
2 definite plans 7 it means
3 artificial satellites 8 behaviour of the artificial satellites
4 any known planet. 9 the nature of movement
5 circular orbits 10 astronomically speaking
III. :
1 6
2 7
3 8 - ,
4 9
5 10
IV. , . , , :
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Know, possible, science, exist, assume, art, take, familiar, explain,
V. : , , , : ) , ) .
VI. , : to be, to have; there is/are; ; ; Present, Past, Future Simple Active/Passive; .
1 There are so many unknowns about these planets.
2 One of the most interesting problems about Mars is whether life exists or doesn't on the planet.
3 Typical is the support for the most starting theory about Mars that it has two big artificial satellites in orbit around it put there by beings who are, or were, far more advanced than us, scientifically.
4 The period of revolution of Phobos is shorter than that of its own parent Mars".
5 The changes in the nature of movement are so great that we can confidently say that we are witnessing the slow agony of a celestial body.
VII. :
1 What can you say about the possibility of investigations of Mars?
2.How are the satellites of Mars called?
3.What do the words Phobos and Deimos mean in Russian?
4.Who discovered the Mars' satellites?
5.What is Shkjovsky's supposition about the origin of Mars' satellites?
6.How does Shklovsky prove his theory?
7.What did an American astronomer Sharpies discover?
