Mars is the fourth planet from the
Sun. Mars is known as the "Red Planet" due to its rusty iron-rich
soil. It boasts the largest volcano in the solar system (Olympus Mons), and has
seasons similar to Earth, albeit with a Martian year being nearly twice as
long.
Mars is orbiting at a distance of
about 141 million miles (228 million kilometers). It's a terrestrial planet,
meaning it has a solid, rocky surface, and is the second smallest planet in our
solar system, after Mercury.
Mars is about half the size of Earth
and is the second smallest planet in our solar system after Mercury. The
surface of Mars appears red due to the presence of iron oxide (rust) in its
soil and rocks. Mars has two irregular shape moons, Phobos and Deimos, named
after the horses that pulled the chariot of the Roman god of war, Mars. Mars
has about one-third the gravity of Earth.
Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the
largest volcano in the solar system, which is three times the height of Mount
Everest.
A year on Mars is about 687 Earth
days, or 1.88 Earth years. A day on Mars (called a "sol") is about 24
hours and 37 minutes, slightly longer than an Earth day.
Mars has a very thin atmosphere,
mostly composed of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. Mars is a cold, desert
world with an average surface temperature of -81°F (-63°C). There are signs of
ancient floods on Mars, and water currently exists as ice caps and in icy dirt
and thin clouds.
Mars has a variety of surface
features, including:
●
Canyons: Valles
Marineris, the solar system's largest canyon, is located on Mars.
●
Volcanoes: Olympus Mons,
the largest volcano in the solar system, is also located on Mars.
●
Polar Ice Caps: Mars has
polar ice caps made of water ice and carbon dioxide ice.
●
Dust Storms: Mars is
known for its large, planet-wide dust storms.
Mars is the most similar to earth
planet ever discovered. It measures 4,222 miles which is approximately 6794
kilometers in diameter as compared to earth which measures 7926 miles which is
approximately 12756 kilometers. In comparison this translates to about 53% of
the earth size. In terms of distance from the sun, the earth is located 93
million miles away from the sun as compared to the mars which ranges from
128.43 million miles to 154.94 million miles from the sun. Earth is known to
rotate on an axis tilted at 23.5 degrees as opposed to mars which tilted at 25
degrees. The earth’s revolution takes approximately 365 days while Mars takes
687 earth days or 670 mars days. Earth and Mars have significant discrepancies.
Earth’s abundant atmosphere sustains diverse life forms, while Mars’ thin
atmosphere creates an inhospitable environment. Earth’s magnitude and
gravitational solid pull contrast with Mars’ more diminutive stature and weaker
gravitational force. The presence of Earth’s Moon, shaped by its influence on
our geology and tides, stands in contrast to Mars’ smaller, captured moons.
Despite their disparities, the exploration of Mars has provided invaluable
insights into our understanding of planetary science, igniting the quest for
potential life beyond our home planet. Studying these contrasting worlds
enriches our comprehension of the universe and our place within it.
Why is Mars interesting?
Scientists are interested in Mars
because they believe it may have had liquid water on its surface in the past,
and it is possible that it could still harbor microbial life. Mars is
considered a likely target for future human exploration due to its relative
proximity to Earth and its potential for resource utilization. Mars is an
important target for scientific research, and missions to Mars have helped us
learn more about the formation and evolution of planets. Scientists are
interested in Mars because there is evidence that it may have had life in the
past, and they are exploring the possibility of future life on Mars.
Can man survive on Mars?
Human survival on Mars would require living in artificial Mars habitats with complex life-support systems. One key aspect of this would be water processing systems. Being made mainly of water, a human being would die in a matter of days without it.
By:
-Nivedita [Batch 20]