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Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars the Red PlanetMars the Red Planet
Known to Babylonians 3,600 years Known to Babylonians 3,600 years ago as “Star that Wandered”ago as “Star that Wandered”
The Greeks referred to it as “Ares” The Greeks referred to it as “Ares” the god of Warthe god of War
Romans called it MarsRomans called it Mars
LocationLocation
Image Courtesy of NASA
Basic FactsBasic FactsDistance from Sun ≈1.52 times as far Distance from Sun ≈1.52 times as far as Earthas EarthTime to Orbit the Sun ~ 26 Earth Time to Orbit the Sun ~ 26 Earth monthsmonthsAtmosphere ~ Mostly carbon dioxideAtmosphere ~ Mostly carbon dioxideMartian Day ~ 24.7 hoursMartian Day ~ 24.7 hoursTemperature on the planet’s surface Temperature on the planet’s surface hardly rises above freezing pointhardly rises above freezing point
Earth and Mars ComparisonEarth and Mars ComparisonEarthEarth MarsMars
RadiusRadius 6378 km6378 km 3397 km3397 km
DensityDensity 5515 kg/m5515 kg/m33 3933 kg/m3933 kg/m33
GravityGravity 9.8 m/s9.8 m/s22 3.72 m/s3.72 m/s22
YearYear 365.25 days365.25 days 686.98 days686.98 days
EccentricityEccentricity 0.0170.017 0.0940.094
DayDay 24 hours24 hours 24 hr 39 min24 hr 39 min
ObliquityObliquity 23.45º23.45º 25.19º25.19º
Earth and Mars ComparisonEarth and Mars Comparison
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars Surface FeaturesMars Surface FeaturesSurface Color: “Red” Surface Color: “Red” FeaturesFeatures– Impact CratersImpact Craters– Largest volcano in the Largest volcano in the
solar systemsolar system(Olympus Mons)(Olympus Mons)
– Largest Canyon in the Largest Canyon in the Solar SystemSolar System(Valles Marineris)(Valles Marineris)
– Ancient river channelsAncient river channels– Lava RocksLava Rocks– Dust: Reddish from Dust: Reddish from
volcanic rockvolcanic rock
Valles Marineris
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars AtmosphereMars AtmosphereUnbreathableUnbreathableThinThinDusty, makes the sky pinkish, lots of Dusty, makes the sky pinkish, lots of dust stormsdust stormsSurface Pressure: 1/150Surface Pressure: 1/150thth of Earth’s of Earth’s (only 5.6 millibars)(only 5.6 millibars)
Composition: 95% COComposition: 95% CO22, 3% N, 1.5% , 3% N, 1.5% Ar, 0.1% OAr, 0.1% O22, 0.03% H, 0.03% H22OO
Moons of MarsMoons of MarsMars has two tiny Mars has two tiny moons named moons named “Deimos” (Panic) & “Deimos” (Panic) & “Phobos” (Fear)“Phobos” (Fear)The moons are The moons are irregular and very irregular and very small in sizesmall in size– Phobos 27x22x18 kmPhobos 27x22x18 km– Deimos 15x12x10 kmDeimos 15x12x10 km
The moons are The moons are probably asteroids probably asteroids captured by Marscaptured by Mars
Deimos Phobos
Image Courtesy of NASA
Is there Water on Mars?Is there Water on Mars?
Water is the key to life as we know itWater is the key to life as we know it
The north and south poles of Mars The north and south poles of Mars are covered with thick ice or frostare covered with thick ice or frost
Some astronomers about 100 years Some astronomers about 100 years ago thought there were canals on ago thought there were canals on Mars dug by intelligent civilizationMars dug by intelligent civilization
Space probes to date have not found Space probes to date have not found any traces of canals on Marsany traces of canals on Mars
Previous Mission to MarsPrevious Mission to MarsViking 1 and 2 in Viking 1 and 2 in 19761976– First pictures of First pictures of
Martian surfaceMartian surface
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Previous Mission to MarsPrevious Mission to MarsPathfinder in 1997Pathfinder in 1997– Roving vehicle – Roving vehicle –
Sojourner to Sojourner to explore Martian explore Martian surfacesurface
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Current MissionsCurrent MissionsMars Global Mars Global SurveyorSurveyor– Accomplishes all Accomplishes all
the tasks of its the tasks of its missionmission
– And still goingAnd still going
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
OdysseyOdysseyDiscovered Discovered subsurface water subsurface water ice near polesice near poles
Track changes of Track changes of polar ice, clouds polar ice, clouds and dust stormsand dust storms
Generated maps of Generated maps of radiation and radiation and mineralsminerals
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars RoversMars RoversSpiritSpirit– Landed January 3, Landed January 3,
20042004
OpportunityOpportunity– Landed January 24, Landed January 24,
20042004
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars Reconnaissance OrbiterMars Reconnaissance OrbiterLaunch date 2005Launch date 2005SHARADSHARAD– Shallow Radar Shallow Radar
InstrumentInstrument– Penetrate ground and Penetrate ground and
search for water at search for water at depths greater than 3 depths greater than 3 feet.feet.
CRISMCRISM– SpectrometerSpectrometer– Find recent traces of Find recent traces of
waterwater
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars Reconnaissance OrbiterMars Reconnaissance OrbiterLaunch date 2005Launch date 2005
CTXCTX– Contex CameraContex Camera– Wide area viewsWide area views
HiRISEHiRISE– High Resolution High Resolution
CameraCamera– In depth study of In depth study of
areas where water areas where water once flowedonce flowed
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Future MissionFuture Mission
Phoenix - 2008
K9 RoverMars Science Laboratory - 2009
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars WebsitesMars Websites
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/classroomhttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/classroom
http://mars.jpl.nasa.govhttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov
http://marsed.asu.eduhttp://marsed.asu.edu
http://msip.asu.eduhttp://msip.asu.edu
http://marsbound.asu.eduhttp://marsbound.asu.edu