Percival Lowell — Astronomer and Diplomat.
From the years 1893-94, Lowell studied Mars. He wrote and spoke extensively about the planet’s surface, specifically, the canals, which he believed to be a “non-natural feature. ” Lowell proposed the canals had been constructed by martians. Lowell’s work on the canals, though largely incorrect, was a seminal conceptualization of the extraterrestrial and serves as an inspiration for contemporary scientists studying the role of life in the universe.
He was also largely responsible for the discovery of the former planet Pluto.
The image of Lowell below captivates me: the way the telescope tapers to single, small objective; the small knobs, whose narrow shafts run parallel to the body; the cords dangling in the background; his hat backwards, his hand on his knee; his mind on Mars.
