The above sketch was one of several being circulated around the scientific community, as well as the popular press, in the early part of the twentieth century. Percival Lowell, well-known astronomer of the time, drew this image. It was found on the Internet at ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/tharsis/canals.html There is more information about the state of the Canal Theory of the time at this web site.

This is a NASA site about the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter now in orbit around Mars. This instrument is due to go into operation this coming spring. And this within The Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics web site. Is not the Web the most wonderful thing since sliced bread?

The complete text, with illustrations, of "MARS by Percival Lowell, 1895" can be found at www.bibliomania.com/NonFiction/Lowell/Mars/