Red Planet
| Mars (Red Planet) | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | ♂ |
| Adjectives | Martian |
| Mass | 0.64169 x 10^24 kg |
| Radius | 2,106 miles (3,390 kilometers) |
| Volume | 16.312 x 10^10 km^3 |
| Away from the Sun | 1.5 astronomical units* |
| Away from the Sun (km.) | 142 million miles (228 million kilometers) |
| Time sunlight take to reach | 13 minutes |
| Around the sun to complete one rotation (i.e. Length of day (hrs)) | 24.6 hours |
| Temperature (High) | Approx. 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) |
| Temperature (Low) | Approx. -225 degrees Fahrenheit (-153 degrees Celsius) |
| Black-body temperature (K) | 209.8 |
| Moment of inertia (I/MR^2) | 0.366 |
| Natural satellites | 2 |
| Planetary ring system | No |
| Global magnetic field | No |
| *the distance between the Sun and Earth is one astronomical unit, or AU for short. | |
Mars was known to the Egyptians as “Her Desher,” which means “the red one.” When swirling “gas and dust” were drawn in by gravity, Mars was formed about 4.5 billion years ago.
Using an outdated telescope, Italian explorer Galileo Galilei observed the planet Mars in 1609, also in the future he was titled “Father of Observational Astronomy.”
The Red Planet is the “seventh” biggest planet and is fourth-one from the Sun. Approximately “half” the size of Earth is Mars. If Earth had the dimensions of a “nickel,” Mars would be roughly equivalent in size to a “raspberry.” The Sun appears to be only roughly two-thirds the size that we perceive when we watch “sunsets” here on Earth since Mars is farther from the Sun than Earth.
As far as we are aware, it is the only planet fully populated by “robots.” Over the years, NASA, ESA, and other space organizations have launched a number of “rovers, landers, and orbiters” to investigate Mars.
The name “sols” for Martian days is an abbreviation for “solar day.” The term “sol” is often used by scientists. On the Red Planet, a year consists of 669.6 sols, or 687 Earth days.
Mars’s orbit around the Sun is incredibly elliptical. In relation to the “plane of its orbit” around the Sun, Mars has an axial tilt of about 25 degrees, which is rather near to Earth’s axial tilt of 23.4 degrees.
Every two years, the distance between Earth and Mars reaches its “closest point,” which is around 33 million miles. The maximum separation between Earth and Mars is 249 million miles.
The main gases that make up Mars’s thin atmosphere are “argon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.” On Mars, it would take over 14,500 breaths to get the same amount of “oxygen” as one on Earth! There isn’t much oxygen in the Mars atmosphere since it is 100 times less dense and primarily composed of “carbon dioxide” (96%). The “red mud” dust in the air appears hazy and “crimson” to our eyes.
Currently, water on Mars is found in the polar areas just below the surface as “water-ice,” but liquid-water cannot stay on the surface for very long due to the thin Martian atmosphere.
As heat from the “Sun” rapidly departs this planet due to its thin atmosphere. Standing at noon “on the equator” of the Red Planet would feel like spring (24°C) beneath your feet and winter (0°C) over your head.
Sounds on Mars would sound a little different and more “muted” than on Earth because of the planet’s distinct atmosphere.
The largest volcano in the solar system, “Olympus Mons,” is located on Mars. Standing three times higher than “Mount Everest” on Earth, and its base is equivalent to the area of the state of New Mexico.
The grand valley at Mars, known as “Valles Marineris,” is the largest canyon in the solar system. It stretches over 3,000 kilometers in length, 600 kilometers in width, and reaches a depth of up to 8 kilometers.
The dense core of the Red Planet is composed of “sulfur, nickel, and iron.” A rocky mantle encircles the core, while a crust consisting of “iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and potassium” sits above it. Mars has a density of roughly 71% that of Earth.
One of the simplest planets to locate in the “night sky” is Mars, which resembles a brilliant red dot. The numerous “craters” on Mars are the result of asteroids or meteorites striking the planet. Because it can be viewed without the need of “sophisticated telescopes,” Mars has been known since antiquity.
On June 30 2024, NASA’s “Mars Odyssey,” the robot with the longest lifespan on the planet, will celebrate 100,000 orbits of the Red Planet since its launch 23 years ago.
Mars’s incredibly weak magnetic field indicates that the planet’s iron core is no longer flowing and fluid. Also, Mars has “less gravity” than Earth, so if you lived on the Red Planet, you would weigh 62% less.
The southern hemisphere of the Red Planet has “hills” (highlands) that are made of the oldest, most severely cratered crustal matter. Lowlands are located in the “northern” hemisphere of Mars. Even in comparison to the worst areas of the “Atacama Desert,” Mars is 1,000 times drier than.
The Red Planet mission lander “InSight” found that the planet is extremely active. Following the placement of the “SEIS equipment” on the surface, 1,319 marsquakes were recorded in approx. 3 years. Insight had taken approx. 205 days to reach Mars.
Natural Satellites -
“Phobos and Deimos,” two of Mars’s minor moons, are probably asteroids that had broken away from the asteroid belt. Their “potato-like” shape is because of their low mass, which generates weak gravity. Strong gravity pulls stuff uniformly from all directions toward the “center,” which causes objects to be spherical. Based on the horses that wheeled the chariot of “Ares” (the Greek god of war) the moons got their names.
Deimos orbits “two and a half” times further from Mars than Phobos, and is roughly half as massive. Deimos “orbits” the Red Planet every thirty hours, whereas Phobos does so three times in a day.
Nergal -
About 400 BCE, the Babylonians named the Red Planet “Nergal,” after their war god due to its blood-like color, which was associated with war and conflict. Among the first societies to record in-depth “astronomical” observations — including planet movements — were the Babylonians.
Mangala -
Mangala (or Mangal) is the name given to Mars, in “Jyotish astrology.” In Sanskrit, Mars is also known as Angaraka, which means “one who is red in color,” or Bhauma, which means “son of Bhumi (Mother Earth).” He is the Deity of War and an instructor of the “occult disciplines” (such as Ruchaka Mahapurusha Yoga). He is in charge of “Mangalavaram” (Tuesday).
In Vedic astrology, when someone worships Red Planet “arrogantly,” he can be incredibly negative and enraged. A birth chart with a well-placed Mars might bestow traits like “assertiveness, determination, and problem-solving” skills.
Fire star -
Mars is commonly referred to as the “fire star” in East Asian traditions. According to certain hypotheses, the term originated in Chinese mythology. Qilin (also known as Kylin, a legendary Chinese unicorn) and Chitu (also known as Red Hare, a legendary horse), both originated from ancient “Chinese mythological tales” and were said to possess the ability to breathe fire. After the US and the erstwhile “Soviet Union,” China was the third nation to send a robot there.
The planet is also known by its Japanese name, Kasei (火星, lit. “fire star”), which is derived from the “five-element” cycle. Water, fire, air, space, and land are the five elements present at the Red Planet.
*the aforesaid data came from “science.nasa.gov/mars/”, “science.nasa.gov/mars/facts/”, “nasa.tumblr.com/post/141602045589/fun-facts-about-mars?linkId=22661863” “nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/marsfact.html”, etc.
That’s all friends.
Ads Section
