Mars, the Bringer of Wet Shoes

    The local news reminded me that Mars was visible tonight, in the southeast, so I had to go out and see for myself. All I had were binoculars, but I assume the pale star in the sky was the Red Planet. At the risk of looking like a prowler to my neighbors, I took some pictures too.    “During the opposition a great light was seen on the illuminated part of the disk, first at the Lick Observatory, then by Perrotin of Nice, and then by other observers. I am inclined to think that this blaze may have been the casting of the huge gun, in the vast pit sunk into their planet, from which their shots were fired at us.”