The Catalog of Planetary Maps.
Sources: The research that led to this catalog was supported by Fulbright Hungary Grant No. 1222202, awarded to H. Hargitai for research at USGS Astrogeology, Flagstaff, Arizona (advisor: Trent Hare), and by the ICA Commission on Planetary Cartography (advisor: Kira Shingareva). Most of the data is based on the inventory of the map library of USGS Astrogeology.
Copyright and Use Notice: Published U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Air Force maps are generally in the public domain. Some maps reproduced or displayed on this site may be protected by copyright.
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Photos: Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs are by H. Hargitai. Several photographs are from the USGS Astrogeology Map Library and Lowell Observatory, both in Flagstaff, Arizona. Several photographs of Soviet maps were taken at MIIGAiK, Moscow.
Contact: The catalog is curated by H. Hargitai, ELTE, Budapest, hargitai.henrik@btk.elte.hu.
Map of Mars 1896-97
Mars — map
Map of Mars, 1896-97
Telescopic
Lowell Observatory
Book plate
The London Geographical Institute / Georg Philip and son Ltd
Pencil
A.E. Ball's Popular Guide to the Heavens
Plate 8.
Map of Mars.
The selection for this work of a representation of the surface of the planet Mars is a matter of great difficulty. Observers of Mars are divided into two camps—those who see the canals and those who do not. The former are in the strong position that they are perfectly sure that they see what they represent in their drawings; the latter declare that under the finest possible conditions of observation, and with the most perfect instruments, they can see nothing resembling the straight markings which are known as canals. And further, they bring forward experiments which make it clear that irregularly disposed markings imperfectly seen, give the effect of straight streaks, by an optical illusion. The interest which has been excited by the speculations based upon the drawings of these apparently artificial markings makes it impossible to present a chart of Mars in which the canals are omitted. We give, therefore, a reproduction of the chart of Mars made at the Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona, by Mr. A. E. Douglass, from a study of all the drawings made there by various observers during the opposition of 1896-97. At the same time it is necessary to give the caution that some of the very best observers deny altogether the truth of this representation of the planet.
Our difficulty is increased by the fact that there are two rival systems of nomenclature for the features of Mars—an earlier system in which the so-called lands and seas are named after modern Astronomers—Herschel, Leverrier, Dawes, &c., and a later, in which the names are taken from classical geography and mythology. The later system seems likely to prevail, and we have adopted it in the present work. It is useless to give a catalogue of some 400 names of markings whose very existence is in dispute. We confine ourselves therefore to naming some of the more prominent features, to which a number is affixed in the plate.
