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FACTS ABOUT MARS: EARTH'S MYSTERIOUS COUSIN

Added on: 25th Jun 2016

 

MARTIAN TEMPERATURES

Mars_climate_zones

Mars experiences much greater temperature fluctuations than our

own planet. Whereas the coldest it has gotten on Earth’s surface

is -126° F (-88° C) and the hottest 136° F (58° C), Mars fluctuates

between -284° F (-140° C) and 86° F (30° C). The average

temperature on each is 57° F (14° C) on Earth and -81° F

(-63° C) on Mars. That’s a cold planet!

 

 

INTENSE DUST STORMS

Greeley_Panorama_from_Opportunitys_Fifth_Martian_Winter

Martian dust storms are among the fiercest in the solar system

and are even the largest. A dust storm can envelop the

entire planet and last for many months.

 

 

THE CURIOSITY ROVER

Mars_Science_Laboratory_Curiosity_rover

One of the primary goals of NASA’s well-known Curiosity Rover,

currently on the Martian surface, has been to plan for a human

visit to the planet. Other goals are understanding the climate

and geology of the planet and determining if life ever

existed on Mars.

 

 

TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

olympus mons

The tallest mountain in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is a

shield volcano, similar to those in Hawaii and many Pacific islands.

It stands at 13.2 miles (21 km) above sea level on the Martian

surface. Three times taller than Mount Everest, Olympus Mons’

surface area is the same as the entire U.S. state of Arizona.

 

 

FIRST SPACECRAFT EXPLORATION OF MARS

Soviet_Union-1964-Stamp-0.06._Mars_1

The first spacecraft sent to explore Mars was the Soviet Union’s

“Mars 1” in 1962. En route, mission controllers lost contact with

the vehicle. The first American spacecraft to reach Mars was

Mariner 4 in 1964 which sent back the first pictures of the

red planet.

 

 

WATER ON MARS

MarsTransition

Astronomers have known for years that water exists on Mars,

locked up in its polar ice caps. However, they’ve recently found

dark streaks on the planet which would indicate flowing water.

Mars’ temperatures would mean the water would have to be

incredibly salty to keep it in liquid form.

 

 

MARTIAN LAND AREA

Earth_mars_moon_celestia

Despite being considerably smaller than Earth – about half of

Earth’s diameter and a tenth of its mass – Mars has a land area

similar to that on Earth due to our planet’s high amount of water.

This would only apply to Mars’ current state since the

Martian oceans have dried and frozen up.

 

 

PHOBOS, THE LARGER MARTIAN MOON

Phobos_colour_2008

Phobos, the larger of the two Martian moons, orbits the planet so

quickly it would set twice (in the East) and rise once (in the west)

every day.

 


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