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Chapter 13
Mars The Angry
Red Planet
Outline
A Etymology amp MythB By the NumbersC Retrograde MotionD EccentricityE Interior StructureF Atmosphere
1 Clouds2 Dust Devils3 Dust Storms4 Sunset
G Magnetic FieldH Soil
I Surface Features1 Volcanism2 Valles Marineris3 Water4 Polar Ice Caps5 Craters6 Canals
J MoonsK Life ()L 1938 RadioM At the Movies
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in
the Solar System
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Outline
A Etymology amp MythB By the NumbersC Retrograde MotionD EccentricityE Interior StructureF Atmosphere
1 Clouds2 Dust Devils3 Dust Storms4 Sunset
G Magnetic FieldH Soil
I Surface Features1 Volcanism2 Valles Marineris3 Water4 Polar Ice Caps5 Craters6 Canals
J MoonsK Life ()L 1938 RadioM At the Movies
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in
the Solar System
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in
the Solar System
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in
the Solar System
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars
Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in
the Solar System
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in
the Solar System
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in
the Solar System
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars
bull Astronomical and astrological symbol of the planet
Mars
bull Also the symbol for
Iron in alchemy
Male sex symbol
The Greek god Ares
The Roman god Mars
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Etymology amp Myth
Mars was the Roman
god of war and also an
agricultural guardian a
combination
characteristic of early
Rome
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Etymology amp Myth
bullThe Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name Har
degravecher (The Red One)
bullThe Babylonian name for Mars was Nergal (Star of
Death or The Death Star)
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars By the Numbers
Mass (Earth = 1) 012
Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) 053
Distance from the Sun (Earth = 1) 1524
Rotational period 24 hours 39 minutes
Orbital period 687 days
Orbital period (Earth = 1) 188
Tilt of axis (degrees) 2519
Surface gravity (Earth = 1) 038
Temperature-90degC to 20degC
-130degF to 68degF
The Spirit rover recorded a maximum daytime air temperature in
the shade of 35degC (95degF) and regularly recorded temperatures
well above 0degC (32degF) except in winter
A Martian solar day or sol is 24 hours amp 39 minutes
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in
retrograde
motion for 80
days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Retrograde Motion
Mars is in retrograde motion for 80 days
The bright red planet in the image is Mars
Uranus is the dim planet above Mars
Uranus is in retrograde motion in this image
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Axial Tilt
bull Earths rotation axis is tilted by about 235deg a slant that is
pretty much fixed due to the gravitational influence of our
moon
bull Mostly due to Mars lack of a stabilizing moon its tilt can
wobble as much as plusmn10deg from the current 25deg
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Axial Tilt
When Marss axial
tilt is believed to
have been much
larger than today
Mars may have had
an ice age between
21 million and
400000 years ago
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Axial Tilt
The orientation of
Marss axis is such
that its north
celestial pole is in
Cygnus near the
6th-magnitude star
BD +52 2880
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Axial TiltAs on Earth the effect of precession causes the north and south
celestial poles to move in a very large circle but on Mars the
cycle is 171000 Earth years rather than 26000 years as on
Earth
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Axial Tiltbull The zodiac constellations of Marss ecliptic are almost the
same as those of Earth
bull On Mars the Sun spends 6 days in the constellation Cetus
leaving and re-entering Pisces as it does so
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
SeasonSols
(on Mars)
Days
(on Earth)
Northern Spring 19330 92764
Northern Summer 17864 93647
Northern Autumn 14270 89836
Northern Winter 15395 88997
Mars Axial Tiltbull The orbit of Mars has significantly greater eccentricity than that of
Earth
bull Therefore the seasons are of unequal length much more so than
on Earth
bull In practical terms this means that summers and winters have
different lengths and intensities in the northern and southern
hemispheres
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Surface
bull Mars is actually quite a small planet
bull Its total surface area is about 28 the size of Earth
bull This doesnrsquot sound like much but itrsquos actually almost exactly
the same amount as the dry land on Earth
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Interior Structure
bullThere hasnrsquot been a mission to Mars to directly determine the
interior structure of Mars
bullScientists have inferred the likely interior structure of Mars
The Core is approximately 2000 km in diameter
The Mantle is 2350 km thick
The Crust has a variable thickness 10 km to 30 km thick
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic FieldbullMars does not have a strong dipole global magnetic field
bullThere is strong similarity between the near-Venus space and
near-Mars space
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic FieldMars has a very weak induced magnetic field due to the interaction
between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic Field
bullThe various Martian magnetic fields do not encompass
the entire planet and are local
bullThe Martian dynamo is extinct and its magnetic fields
are fossil remnants of its ancient global magnetic
field
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Magnetic Fieldbull Mars generates small pockets of magnetism where
areas of rocks in the crust are themselves magnetic
bull This results in many magnetic pole-type regions all
over Mars
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Aurora
bull Marsrsquo aurora is not made of visible light but uv light
bull Instead of appearing at the poles they appear to be
located close to the residual magnetic fields
generated by Marsrsquos crustal rocks
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanism
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanism bull The large shield volcanoes on Mars resemble
Hawaiian shield volcanoes
bull They both have eruptions which are relatively
quiet and basaltic in nature
bull Both have calderas and long lava flows or
channels
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanism
bull The biggest difference between Martian and
Terrestrial volcanoes is size
bull The volcanoes on Mars are 10 to 100 times larger
than those on Earth
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars VolcanismbullThere is no evidence on Mars for large-scale plate
tectonics as we find on Earth
bullThe lack of plate tectonics is one of the reasons
volcanoes of such magnitude were able to form on
Mars
bullVolcanoes remained fixed relative to the surface for
hundreds of millions of years
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Volcanismbull Olympus Mons is a shield volcano similar in morphology to
the large volcanoes making up the Hawaiian Islands
bull The edifice is about 600 km (373 miles) wide and stands
nearly 27 km (16 mi) above the surrounding plains (3 times
the height of Mount Everest)
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull A recent study indicates that Mars is at a primitive stage of plate
tectonics
bull The crust appears to be divided into just two plates
bull The two plates are called Valles Marineris North and the Valles
Marineris South
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Plate TectonicsThe two plates divided by Marsrsquo Valles Marineris have moved a
total of 93 miles horizontally relative to each other and are
similar to Californiarsquos San Andreas Fault
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Plate Tectonicsbull This theory would explain the dramatic landslides seen along
the canyon walls
bull Since Mars cooled down much more rapidly than Earth the
process of tectonic plate formation appears to have ground to
a halt
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
bull Valles Marineris is named
after the Mariner 9 Mars
orbiter of 1971ndash72 Mariner
9rsquos images were the first of
the valley
bull It is a system that runs along
the Martian surface running
almost directly across the
Martian equator
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
At more than 4000 km long 200 km wide and up to
7 km deep (2485 miles long 124 miles wide 4
miles deep) the Valles Marineris rift system is the
largest known canyon in the solar system even
surpassing all canyons on Earth
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
Itrsquos likely a rift valley similar to the East African Rift
Valley here on Earth
As the giant volcanoes formed the Valles Marineris
opened up as a crack in the ground
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Valles Marineris
The Grand Canyon is a mere scratch by
comparison ndash 277 miles (446 km) long up to 18
miles (29 km) wide and 1 mile (16 km) deep
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Soil
bullThe surface of Mars is covered by a fine
layer of iron oxide dust that has the
consistency of talcum powder
bull Itrsquos this iron oxide dust that gives Mars
its red color
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Soil
River bedhellipMars or Earth
Mars Earth
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Carbon Dioxide 95
Nitrogen 27
Argon 16
Other 025
Mars Atmosphere
Other gases include traces of
Carbon monoxide
Water
Nitrogen oxide
Neon Krypton and Xenon
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars AtmosphereMars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago so the solar
wind interacts directly with the Martian ionosphere lowering the
atmospheric density by stripping away atoms from the outer
layer
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Atmosphere
The average surface pressure is only about 6 millibars
(less than 1 of the Earths)
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Atmosphere
The dark dune spots and fans
formed by eruptions of CO2 gas
geysers on Mars south polar ice
sheet
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Atmosphere
bull Every Martian spring they appear
out of nowhere showing up where
they were the year before
bull They appear suddenly
bull When winter comes they vanish
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Atmospherebull Marsrsquo atmosphere also contains trace amounts of methane
bull The concentration of methane varies from season to season
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Atmospherebull This would indicate the presence of life on Mars
bull However this may also be produced by a geochemical
process volcanic or hydrothermal activity
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
bullThe Martian
atmosphere contains
clouds of ice particles
that are between 50 amp
62 miles (80 to 100
kilometers) above the
red planet
bullThe highest clouds on
Earth top out at about
52 miles (84
kilometers)
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Clouds
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Wind
bull In physical geography a
dune is a hill of sand
built by either wind or
water flow
bull The maximum wind
speeds recorded by the
Viking Landers in the
1970s were about 30
ms (60 mph) with an
average of 10 ms (20
mph)
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Wind
Curiosity rovers
parachute flapping in
the Martian wind
(August 12 2012 to
January 13 2013)
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Dust Devils
A dust devil is a strong well-formed and relatively
long-lived whirlwind ranging from small (half a meter
wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than
10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall)
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Dust Devils
bullMartian dust devils can be up to fifty times as wide and ten
times as high as terrestrial dust devils and large ones may
pose a threat to terrestrial technology sent to Mars
bullDust Devils are the only active wind processes that occure
on Mars
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars CyclonesOn April 27 1999 a rare cyclone 1100 miles in
diameter was detected in the northern polar region of
Mars
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Cyclones
bull It consisted of three cloud
bands wrapped around a
massive 200-mile-diameter eye
bull It was only observed briefly as
it seemed to be dissipating
when it was imaged six hours
later and was not seen on later
imaging passes
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Cyclones
Several other cyclones were imaged in about
the same area
2 March 2001 cyclone
19 January 2003 cyclone
27 November 2004 cyclone
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter near the Mars northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic weather system North is up The
frame width is 500 km
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Cyclones
Viking 1 Orbiter
near the Mars
northern polar cap
showing a cyclonic
weather system
North is up The
frame width is
1150 km
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Dust Storms
bullThe ultimate energy source for Martian dust storms is
sunlight
bullFor that reason the dusty season on Mars begins each year
near perihelion the planets closest approach to the Sun
bullThe biggest dust storms dont usually begin until one or two
months after perihelion
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Dust Storms
bull A typical Mars dust storm can take a few months to grow
from a regional dust storm to a fully global storm
bull Then a few months later cooler temperatures help the
winds die down the atmosphere can start to clear
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars SkyDuring the day the sky ranges from a pinkish-red light through a
orange to a yellow-brown butterscotch color
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Sky
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Sky
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Skybull In the vicinity of the setting sun or rising sun the sky assumes a
blue cast
bull Dust scatters blue light in the forward direction
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Sky
At times the Martian
sky takes on a violet
color due to
scattering of light by
very small water ice
particles in clouds
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars SkyTwilight lasts a long time after the Sun has set and before it rises
because of all the dust in Marss atmosphere
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Sunset
Fine Martian dust particles suspended in the thin
atmosphere lend the sky a reddish color but the dust
also scatters blue light in the forward direction creating
a bluish sky glow near the setting Sun
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
Mars Surface
Mars or Earth
Earth Mars
Mars or Earth
Mars Water
A recent discovery
suggests that whole
Mars was covered
with water around 4
billion years ago
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
Although the temperature on Mars can reach above freezing (0 degC
(32 degF)) liquid water is unstable over much of the planet as the
atmospheric pressure is below waters triple point and water ice
sublimes into water vapor
bull There are no bodies of liquid water which
could create a hydrosphere
bull Signs of water on Mars were discovered in
early missions to the red planet
Mars Water
bull Water on Mars is
much less abundant
than it is on Earth
at least in its liquid
and gaseous states
of matter
bull Most of the water
known is locked in
the permafrost and
polar caps
Mars Water
Mars Water
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix spacecraft has observed
familiar terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
Mars Water
Mars Earth
bull In the Martian North the Phoenix lander has observed familiar
terrain
bull The land is flat but shaped into polygons between 2ndash3 meters in
diameter and are bounded 20 cm to 50 cm deep troughs
bull These shapes are due to ice in the soil expanding and contracting
due to major temperature changes
The Phoenix Mars
Lander has
confirmed that water
ice critical to the
missions life habitat
studies lies under
only 4 centimeters of
soil all around the
spacecraft
Mars Water
bullThe image show a patch of water ice sitting on the floor of
an unnamed crater near the Martian north pole
bullThe crater is 35 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth
of approximately 2 kilometers beneath the crater rim
bullThe circular patch of bright material located at the center of
the crater is residual water ice
Mars Water
bull The evidence of water comes from a comparison of several
images from the Global Surveyors Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
bull Image data acquired in December 22 2001 showed no
evidence of water
bull Images of the same geographic point on August 26 2006
showed new landscape traces appearing as a place where
liquid water recently flowed
Mars Water
bull Liquid droplets seem to form and move on the leg of
the Phoenix Mars Lander as seen in images taken
on days 8 31 and 44 (seen above from left to right)
of the crafts mission
bull Scientists think the water could stay liquid even in
the frigid Martian arctic because of its high
concentration of perchlorates salts that acts like
antifreeze
Mars Water
Mars Snow
On September 29 2008 the
Phoenix lander took pictures of
snow falling from clouds 45 km
above its landing site
Clouds on Mars producing snow
The precipitation
vaporized before reaching
the ground a
phenomenon called virga
Mars Polar Ice Caps
Mars has ice caps at both its north and
south poles
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The south polar cap
also acquires a thin
frozen carbon
dioxide coating in
the southern
hemisphere winter
bull The ice cap has 2
layers
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The top layer consists of frozen carbon dioxide
and about 8 meters (27 feet) thick
bull The bottom layer is deeper and is made of water
ice
Mars Polar Ice Caps
bull The perennial or permanent portion of the north
polar cap consists almost entirely of water ice
bull In the northern hemisphere winter this gains a
seasonal coating of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice)
about one meter (three feet) thick
Mars CratersbullLike most of the planets and moons in the Solar System the
planet Mars is covered with impact craters
bull In fact there are hundreds of thousands of craters on the
surface of Mars including hundreds of named craters
bullThere are more than 43000 known craters larger than 5 km
across
bullVictoria is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 730 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars Craters
bullEndurance is an impact crater on Mars visited by Opportunity
bull It is roughly 130 meters wide
Mars The Canalsbull The famous canals of Mars is an example of confusion created
and perpetuated by over zealous astronomers
bull Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars in 1877
bull He assigned names to bright and dark features which included a
large number of straight-line features called ldquocanalirdquo
Mars The Canalsbull The word canali was mistranslated in English as canal instead
of the correct channel
bull This misleading connotation of artificial construction by Martians
that had not been intended by Schiaparelli
Mars The Canals
In his 1895 book Mars As
the Abode of Life the
famous astronomer
Percival Lowell
persuasively argued that
the Martian canals had
been constructed by an
heroic intelligent race
tapping melting polar ice
for water to irrigate
equatorial crops
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The Moonsbull Mars has two small moons Phobos and Deimos which
are thought to be captured asteroids Both satellites were
discovered in 1877
bull They are named after the minor gods Phobos (panicfear)
and Deimos (terrordread)
Mars The MoonsbullSince Phobos orbits Mars faster than the planet itself rotates tidal
forces are slowly but steadily decreasing its orbital radius
bullAt some point in the future when it approaches Mars closely
enough Phobos will be broken up by these tidal forces
bullDeimos on the other hand is far enough away that its orbit is
being slowly boosted instead as in the case of our own Moon
Mars The Moons
bull Based on their similarity one
hypothesis is that both moons may
be captured main-belt asteroids
bull Both moons have very circular
orbits which lie almost exactly in
Marss equatorial plane the
capture mechanism is unknown
and the scenarios very unlikely
Mars The Moons
bull However there is evidence that
they were once Amor Asteroids
rather than from the Asteroid Belt
bull Amor Asteroids spend their time
between Earth and Mars
Mars The Moonsbull Another hypothesis is that Mars collided with a large
planetesimal and ejected many Phobos- and Deimos-sized
bodies
bull Tidal perturbations
cause these moons
to fall back towards
the Martian surface
forming impact
craters
bull The Martian moons
are more like D-Type
Asteroids
Mars The Moons
bull Both moons are tidally locked always presenting
the same face towards Mars
bull Phobos orbits Mars approximately 6000
kilometers (3700 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
bull Deimos orbits Mars approximately 20000
kilometers (12400 mi) from the planetrsquos surface
Mars The Moons
Phobos
Mean radius 111 km (69 mi)
Orbital Period 76 hours
Orbital Radius 93772 km (58267 mi)
Mass 108times1016 kilograms
Mars The MoonsPhobos orbiting Mars
Mars The Moons
bull A transit of Phobos from
Mars usually lasts only
thirty seconds due to the
moons very rapid orbital
period of about 76 hours
bull Because Phobos orbits
close to Mars and in line
with its equator transits of
Phobos occur somewhere
on Mars on most days of
the Martian year
Mars The Moons
The penumbral
shadow of Phobos
can be seen to move
rapidly over the
Martian surface
Mars The Moons
Deimos
Mean radius 62 kilometers (39 mi)
Orbital Period 30 hours
Orbital Radius 23460 kilometers (14580 mi)
Mass 148times1015 kilograms
Mars The Moons
bull During a transit Deimos
can be seen from Mars as
a small black disc rapidly
moving across the face of
the Sun
bull The event could also be
referred to as a partial
eclipse of the Sun by
Deimos
Mars Habitabilitybull Alpine and polar lichens could survive on Mars
bull Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center
simulated the conditions on Mars for 34 days and exposed
various microorganisms to this environment
bull During this period the lichens and bacteria continued to
demonstrate measurable activity and carry out
photosynthesis
Xanthoria elegans
Sun Burst Lichen
Cetraria tilesii
Mars 1938 Radio
Mercury Theatrersquos War of the WorldsbullThe first 40 minutes of the hour long broadcast
were presented as a series of simulated news
bulletins which suggested to many listeners that
an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently
in progress
bullCompounding the issue was the fact that the
Mercury Theatre on the Air was a ldquosustaining
showrdquo (it ran without commercial breaks) thus
adding to the programs quality of realism
Mars 1938 Radio
Mars A View of Home
Mars A View of Home
The End
