In the summer of 1892, a rare alignment brought Earth closest to Mars in 15 years, captivating astronomers and the general public alike. As telescopes improved, Mars’ surface revealed its desolate terrain and polar ice caps. Journalist Joseph Pulitzer hyped these discoveries with sensational headlines.
Author David Baron’s new book, The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America, explores the “Mars boom.” This story will be new to many modern readers, as it is a classic American tale of determination and hubris. Unfortunately, this fervor was fueled by false claims and hype, ultimately ending in disappointment.
Source: https://airmail.news/issues/2025-8-23/of-mars-and-men