Facts about Mars
Mars' equator is defined by its rotation, but the location of its Prime Meridian was specified (as was Earth's) by choice of an arbitrary point.
Mars has half the radius of the Earth and only one-tenth the mass.
The red/orange appearance of Mars' surface is caused by iron(III) oxide (rust).
An alternative suitable for small-scale production is the reduction of vanadium pentachloride (VCl5) with hydrogen or magnesium.
The surface of Mars is thought to be primarily composed of basalt, based upon the Martian meteorite collection and orbital observations.
One theory, published in 1999 and reexamined in October 2005 with the help of the Mars Global Surveyor, is that these bands are evidence of the past operation of plate tectonics on Mars.
Mars Facts. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is the second smallest planet in the solar system. Named after the Roman god of war, Mars is also often described as the “Red Planet” due to its reddish appearance. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide.
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System after Mercury. ... Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth.
The simple explanation for the Red Planet's color is that its regolith, or surface material, contains lots of iron oxide — the same compound that gives blood and rust their hue. But why does Mars have so much iron, why is that iron "oxidized," and why does iron oxide look red?Aug 8, 2012
Mars is the "Red Planet" for a very good reason: its surface is made of a thick layer of oxidized iron dust and rocks of the same color. Maybe another name for Mars could be "Rusty." But the ruddy surface does not tell the whole story of the composition of this world.Dec 11, 2017
A tough plant "pioneer" that can grow in Martian soil. Like customizing a car, NASA-funded scientists are designing plants that can survive the harsh conditions on Mars. These plants could provide oxygen, fresh food, and even medicine to astronauts while living off their waste.May 16, 2005
Mars is one of the four terrestrial planets. Mercury, Venus, and Earth are the other three. All of the terrestrial planets are made up of rock and metals. The remaining planets are classified as the outer gas giants.Jun 16, 2010
The migration of the planet Jupiter as the solar system formed may have kept Mars the planetary runt, smaller than its rocky neighbors Earth and Venus, that it is today, a new study suggests. Mars is only about half the size of Earth and one-tenth the mass of our planet — a fact that has so far perplexed scientists.Jun 7, 2011
Mars Facts. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is the second smallest planet in the solar system. Named after the Roman god of war, Mars is also often described as the “Red Planet” due to its reddish appearance. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide.
Recent evidence points to the very fine dust also being spread across the planet by water, backed up by the presence of channels and ducts across the surface of Mars. The iron within the dust reacted with oxygen, producing a red rust colour, while the sky appears red as storms carried the dust into the atmosphere.Jun 22, 2012
Mars probably got the nickname, The Red Planet, due to the rusty color of its soil, which is comprised of iron-rich minerals. The Egyptians called it the red one because it appears more reddish in the night sky.
The simple explanation for the Red Planet's color is that its regolith, or surface material, contains lots of iron oxide — the same compound that gives blood and rust their hue. But why does Mars have so much iron, why is that iron "oxidized," and why does iron oxide look red?Aug 8, 2012
Mars Facts. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is the second smallest planet in the solar system. Named after the Roman god of war, Mars is also often described as the “Red Planet” due to its reddish appearance. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide.
Why live on Earth when you can live on Mars? ... Mars is a completely hostile environment to human life, combining extreme cold with an unbreathable atmosphere and intense radiation. And while it is understood that the planet once had an atmosphere and lots of water, that was billions of years ago!Jun 4, 2015