Percival Lowell is an English astronomer who according to David Grinspoon, embarrassed planetary astronomy (Grinspoon 406). Lowell is regarded in history as an embarrassment because of his theory about canals on Mars and how they might have been a home to intelligent aliens. During that time, it was reasonable to assume Lowell’s theory was preposterous because of the lack of information about Mars. But since the recent discovery of water and our increased knowledge about Mars, Lowell’s argument appears to be a potential source in our search for other worlds. Lowell’s theory about Mars canals should be reviewed and reworked, because it may lead us to the answer behind the search. The idea of canals being on Mars stemmed from an incorrect interpretation by Percival Lowell. The “canals” were first discovered in 1877 by an Italian astronomer, …show more content…
Canali refers to a naturally-made river delta structure, and Lowell’s theory was based on a man-made canal. The errors in his theory stem from this simple mistake; however, by considering of the true meaning of canali, Lowell may have been onto something with his ideas of extraterrestrial life. When Lowell’s ideas were critiqued, people claimed that Mars was far too dry and cold to ever support water or life at that time; yet, the recent discovery of water debunks that argument whole heartedly. The location that the water was discovered on Mars actually supports Lowell’s argument. Lowell and Schiaparelli’s images described the canals to be slopes that contoured with the land of Mars, and that’s exactly where the water on Mars was found. According to NASA, dark features along the hills on Mars are linked to flowing liquid water. Finding proof of water on Mars is synonymous with Lowell’s predictions. (Sample