As the sun dipped below the horizon on a late summer weekend in 1924, anticipation hung thick in the air. On August 23, in cities across the globe, people gathered eagerly around curbside telescopes, their eyes fixed on the red planet that had captivated imaginations for decades. Mars, closer to Earth than it had been in a century, promised an unprecedented view of its enigmatic surface. “Witness the wonders of Mars!” proclaimed sidewalk astronomers in New York City. “This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the snowcaps and grand canals that have everyone talking!”

The phenomenon, known as Mars opposition, brought the two planets within just 34 million miles of each other. While such alignments occur every 26 months, this particular event was extraordinary, sparking fervent scientific and public interest. It was a golden opportunity for astronomers and enthusiasts alike to explore the possibility of alien life on our neighboring planet.

Silas Bent, a journalist of the ...