What is different on mars?
Is it the same on Mars as it is on Earth?
No, certainly not. Almost everything is different on Mars than on Earth:
- The gravity on Mars - 3.711 m/s² - is one third of that of Earth.
- Its radius - 3,389.5 km - a bit more than half of Earth’s.
- Its chemical composition is mainly silicon, iron (gives the planet its red colour when oxidised), magnesium, calcium, aluminium and potassium.
- Its surface - 144.8 million km² - is slightly more than a third of Earth’s.
- It is further away (1.52 AU) from the Sun than Earth.
- There is very little pressure on Mars - 0.6% of that of Earth!
- Its atmosphere is mainly composed of CO², then nitrogen and finally argon.
- Mars has a much higher level of radiation - 300 mSv - than Earth.
- The closest Earth and Mars get is 54 million km, the average is 225 million km and the furthest is 410 million km.
- A trip to Mars with current spacecrafts would take from 5 to 10 months.
- Mars has two Moons: Phobos (that is moving closer to Mars), and Deimos (that is moving away from Mars).
- Mars was named after the Roman God of War. The name of the month March derives from Mars.
Interesting Martian geography:
Mount Olympus - is the largest mountain in our Solar System, it is 624 km in diameter, and 24 km high.
Valles Marineris - a 4000 km long system of canyons 2 to 7 km deep.
The Northern Martian pole, has liquid water under its 1.5 km of solid ice.
The moons of Mars explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggn6P-6USr4
A short overview of Mars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQqHDEYpIvI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggn6P-6USr4
A short overview of Mars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQqHDEYpIvI