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Mars

Mars. Dr. Mikhail Tomoff Summer Astronomy School NAO “Rozhen”, 2004. - the Fourth Rock from the Sun -. Mosaic image taken by Viking. In the centre – Valles Marineris. Credit:: Ilyan Darganov. Historical Background.

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Mars

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  1. Mars Dr. Mikhail Tomoff Summer Astronomy School NAO “Rozhen”, 2004 - the Fourth Rock from the Sun - Mosaic image taken by Viking. In the centre – Valles Marineris Credit:: Ilyan Darganov

  2. Historical Background • the name – (Greek: Ares) – the Roman god M. was god of agriculture before becoming associated with the Greek god of war • Galileo; Huygens – Syrtis Major1659, 1672, Cosmotheros ; Cassini 1699 – rotational period; • First Surface Features Determined: the 1700s • Miraldi –- the poles, 1719 – great opposition nearly as close as the one in 2003 • Sir William Herschel – the color changes, believed in life on all solar bodies • The 1800s: The mapping of Mars • Giovanni Schiaparelli (1835-1910) – nomenclature for Mars features from mythology, “canali” • Percival Lowell – believed in intelligent life on Mars, “channels” • 20th and 21st century • atmospheric observations • Gerard Kuiper 1952 – CO2 • the missions continuing until recent days

  3. Schiaparelli’s map of Mars

  4. General Facts about … • Physical features (orbital and other) • Mass (kg)6.421.1023, Mass (Earth = 1)1.0745.10-1 • Equatorial radius (km)3,397.2 Equatorial radius (Earth = 1)5.3264 .10-1 • Mean density (gm/cm 3)3.94 • Mean distance from the Sun (km)227,940,000 • Mean distance from the Sun (Earth = 1)1.5237 • Rotational period (hours)24.6229, Rotational period (days)1.025957 • Orbital period (days)686.98, Mean orbital velocity (km/sec)24.13 • Orbital eccentricity0.0934 • Tilt of axis (degrees)25.19 • Orbital inclination (degrees)1.850 • Equatorial surface gravity (m/sec2)3.72 • Equatorial escape velocity (km/sec)5.02 • Visual geometric albedo0.15 , Magnitude (Vo) -2.01 (varies!) • 2 moons – Phobos and Deimos

  5. Atmosphere – quite different than the Earth’s one • 1 percent of Earth's atmosphere ! • Carbon Dioxide (CO2): 95.32% • Nitrogen (N2): 2.7% • Argon (Ar): 1.6% • Oxygen (O2): 0.13% • Water (H2O): 0.03% - small amounts but enough for cloud’s formation • Neon (Ne): 0.00025 % • Temperature and Pressure • T - average -63° C (-81° F) , max. 20° C (68° F) , min. -140° C (-220° F) • pressure - average – 7 millibars (varies with seasons) • Climate • significantly elliptical orbit – big temperature variations • dramatic weather changes, strongly variable atmosphere • global dust storms • clouds – often more cloudy than dusty (HST, NRAO) • perihelion climate (summer in S. H.)– dust storms – Viking, Mariner 9, NRAO • aphelion climate - planet-wide belts of water ice clouds (not identified by the 1970’s spacecrafts)

  6. Geology • Southern H. higher than the North with elevation border between • Internal structure – dense core (iron and sulfur) , mantle, thin crust (80 km S.H., 35 N.H.) • No active tectonic plates • Active volcanoes in the past, no evidence of current activity • Erosion patterns – may be water, may be not • Weak magnetic field • Large but not global magnetic fields in some regions - MGS

  7. Missions’ history • The past missions • Mariner IV – the first successful mission • Mars 2 – first landing on Mars • Viking 1976. The primary mission objectives were to • obtain high resolution images of the Martian surface, • characterize the structure and composition of the atmosphere and surface, • and search for evidence of life. • The Viking Landers transmitted images of the surface, took surface samples and analyzed them for composition and signs of life, studied atmospheric composition and meteorology, and deployed seismometers. Last transmits – 1980 and 1982.The results from the Viking experiments give our most complete view of Mars to date • Mars Pathfinder- landed on 4 of July 1997 (20 years hiatus!) 11 October 1964 – Mariner IV on the top of the rocket Atlas - Agena September 9, 1975 – launch of the Viking 2

  8. Viking 1 lander site - image of basalt type of rock

  9. Viking 2 lander site - image of regolith

  10. Recent missions • MER – Spirit (Gusev crater and Columbia Hills) and Opportunity • Hematite found in Planum Meridianum – may be of origin that includes water presence • Beagle (lost) and Mars Express, orbiting the planet • HRSC, OMEGA, PFS, SPICAM, ASPERA, MaRS • Mars Global Surveyor – scientific researches • 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft – recently - full martian year celebration during which it has • shown us where water ice lies buried beneath the surface; • analysed "what Mars is made of" by identifying minerals and chemical elements; and, • studied the martian radiation environment to help us understand potential health effects on future human explorers.

  11. Future missions and Colonization • Future launches - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter , Phoenix , Mars Science Laboratory • Colonization ideas – Mars Society – dr. Zubrin, desert and polar experiments • Mars – future goal for human mission after the Moon • 1989 – the Ninety days plan – lunar bases, orbital hangars, space docks, transportation fleets, spacecraft – $450 billion dollars! - REJECTED! • Reason for the high price – construction of a massive spacecraft • 1990 – Mars Direct plan (dr. R. Zubrin) – a trip without the 320 tones of propellant; price - $20 billions dollars • “Mars in situ propellant production” – H2+CO2CH3+H20, H20 H2+ O2 , the methane and oxygen are powerful rocket propellant • Why not nuclear fusion? – not enough researched – why? – … • 1st launch – ERV (Earth Return Vehicle) – unmanned payload – 20 t H2 , chemical unit, atmospheric compressor, rover • 2nd launch – manned spacecraft + ERV

  12. The habitation – exercise room, sleeping quarters, bathroom, laboratory, galley, lounge, digital library • 600+500+600 days • Mars Society's experiments – desert and arctic “Martian” bases • Testing technology for life support, transportation, recycling etc. • Inflatable greenhouse • Energy production – solar cells arrays • Other problems before a human mission to Mars: • Radiation hazard • Low gravity – muscle and bone’s deterioration • Psychological stress – “cabin fever” • Dust storms • No possibilities for rescue missions if s.th. goes wrong. • What will the humans do on the Red planet • Study geology, look for water, take samples to return to Earth • Mars Station – Bulgarian educational project • Life issues – Mars meteorite story 1996 David McKay, recent findings – some non-biological processes could produce the patterns found in the meteorite, the big speculations, the need of sample return mission

  13. Observable Mars • Small guide to observing Mars • The great oppositions – great opportunities – Mars is about 25 arcsec. • The difference between what we see (albedo features) and the real landscape. Different colors – different types of lands. Dark color of the areas with impact craters filled with sand size dust particles • Main features – Syrtis Major, Polar Caps, clouds, global dust storms, Hellas • Visual observations, drawings and astroimages

  14. Hubble Space Telescope images • The most breathtaking and astonishing images ever taken from Earth • Examples :

  15. Made with WFPC 2 • Valles Marineris • 4000 km canyons • Olympus Mons • 3 times higher than Mount Everest • Size of Arizona • Tharsis Bulge • Solis Lacus • The Eye of Mars • Terra Sirenum • Impact craters • South Polar Cap • Carbon dioxide and water ice • Dust activity streaks • N.H. – home of volcanoes, S. H. – place of impact craters

  16. The two faces of Mars • Syrtis Major and Hellas Basin in the left image • The right image – see previous slide

  17. Marsoweb site • Opportunity for the general public to take place in the scientific research of Mars

  18. More info in the Net (Bibliography) • NASA’s sites – Mars Exploration Program – with tones of images • Mars Today – news and articles about the planet every day • Red Colony • Mars Society • Marsoweb – invitation to participate in science research • Nine Planets – general information of Mars with a lot of useful links • Solar Views - general information of Mars with a lot of useful links

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