Islands, Canals and Little Green Men: a history of Martian observation March 24, 2009

In an age before space travel the telescope was the only means for astronomers to study other planets. Dr Rebekah Higgitt, Curator of the History of Science at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich explores the history of early attempts to understand the environment and conditions on the Red Planet. Find out why telescope observations led some eminent scientists to believe that Mars supported not only life but oceans, canals, agriculture and even cities.

Official Website: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/iya2009