Random Thoughts on Mars
Well kids, we are going to have a lesson on something out of this world, so get out your pencil and paper. We are right on time, as school is starting.
The other night, my daughter Mary and I went out in the country to see if we could find that Red Planet, Mars. We drove out to get away from the city lights.
The planet is supposed to be closer to the earth now than it has been in 60,000 years. We strained our eyes, scanning the western sky and couldn't find it. It seems we hadn't done our homework. My beauty operator told me the next day that we should have looked east.
Later, I found I have a little book called "Cram, Outer Space and World Globe Handbook." It is a book published by George F. Cram Company, Inc., makers of world globes.
When I saw the drawings and information in the book, it just blew my mind. It showed the earth going around the sun and the moon going around the earth, all at the same time. Mars seems to be sorta like the earth, rotating about every 24 hours and is about one-seventh the size of earth, but is so far away from the sun that it has about only one-half the light and heat that we have.
Now, how the scientists have figured all this out is beyond me. I'm going to have to go out for another look. Do you want to join me?
I finished that book on "American Road." It was a very exciting time, cars being manufactured, tires, too. Every town wanted the road to go through their town. Money and politics and big names were involved. We are one amazing country.
— NORMA HANNAFORD
