“By the mid-17th century, telescopes had improved enough to make visible the seasonally growing and shrinking polar ice caps on Mars, and features such as Syrtis Major, a dark patch thought to be a shallow sea.”

American novelist and critic of the late 20th century, Updike is best known for his meticulously observed, psychologically nuanced fiction, particularly the Rabbit series, which chronicled the quiet struggles of an everyman. His work also distinguished itself through sharp, lyrical essays on literature and culture, blending intellectual rigor with accessible warmth.