The Pathfinder rover on Mars. Image taken from: http://www.scienceweb.org/astro/pathfinder/rvrmovie.htm
Astronomy is far from a perfect science. It is based in theory, and, as we all know, sometimes accepted theories turn out to be bogus. However, before they are disproved, some of these accepted theories can have far-reaching implications. In 1877, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli observed dark lines on Mars’ surface. He theorized that the lines were irrigation canals, evidence of an advanced civilization. Schiaparelli’s theory soon became the accepted truth, and changed the way people understood Mars. His “discovery” fueled the imagination of writers of the day, and jump-started the science fiction genre. The belief that an advanced civilization existed on Mars also drove the space-race, as Mars became a prime target for space exploration. This paper is going to discuss the impact Schiaparelli's “canals” had on Mars-related science fiction and the space race. We will also discuss our own observations we recorded as Mars reached opposition earlier this Spring.