Venus, Mars Inhabited Meteor Expert Reasons

Painesville Telegraph
27 March 1930

Venus, Mars Inhabited Meteor Expert Reasons

Philadelphia, March 27 -

The theory that both Mars and Venus are inhabited has been advanced by Dr. Charles P. Oliver, professor of astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, director of the Flower Observatory and President of the American meteor Society.

He contends that while it is extremely probable that both planets are inhabited by animals, Venus is more likely to be the abode of higher forms of life than Mars.

Mars, according to the professor, does not have a temperature exceeding that of 60 degrees, even at midday of summer, and frequently the temperature drops below the freezing point at night.

"One can conclude then that life does exist on Mars," Dr. Oliver said, "but one can scarecely expect higher forms of life. Reptiles, fishes and birds would be likely, but higher animals unlikely."

On the other hand, Venus, receiving more light and heat from the sun than the earth, would be more likely to be the abode of higher forms of life.

Dr. Oliver said that while the spectroscope does not reveal the existence of any appreciable amount of water-vapor above the clouds of Venus, it is possible that the clouds of Venus are higher than those of the earth, and that oxygen and water-vapor exist at levels lower than those the spetroscope can investigate.

"If oxygen and water-vapor exist on Venus," Dr. Oliver said, "then Venus would be most favorable for life.  And if they do exist, then we could expect higher forms of life to flourish on Venus."