120 likes | 318 Views
Mars. Ben Deck, Matthew Gorst , Mollie Gulley, and Megan Fadem. Basic Properties. It is a Terrestrial planet Tilt 25% Turns counter-clock wise Length of Day= 24 hours and 37 min Length of Year= 687 Earth Days The distance from Mars to the Sun is 141,600,000 miles
E N D
Mars Ben Deck, Matthew Gorst, Mollie Gulley, and Megan Fadem
Basic Properties • It is a Terrestrial planet • Tilt 25% • Turns counter-clock wise • Length of Day= 24 hours and 37 min • Length of Year= 687 Earth Days • The distance from Mars to the Sun is 141,600,000 miles • The average temperature is -80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, temperatures can range from -195 degrees to 70 degrees • Mars is 10% the mass of Earth • Its density is lower than Earth. Mars’ density is 3.94 g/cm^3.
Composition and Features • Mars has a red outer coating due to the iron-rich materials in its regolith. • Largest volcanoes in the solar system are found on the surface of Mars. • Surface is very rigid with channels, valleys, and gullies throughout. • Some regions of surface are low lying plains.
Northern and southern hemispheres have different elevations due to a large impact shortly after the birth of Mars. • Mars has 2 ice caps that cover the south and north poles • Atmosphere around Mars is thin and made up of mostly carbon dioxide. • No rings around it.
Moons • Mars has 2 moons. Phobos and Deimos • Both were named after sons of the war God Ares • Both of the moons are covered with craters from meteor impacts • Phobos is 17 miles in diameter and Deimos is 9 miles • Phobos has any moon’s largest crater at 6 miles
Mars Exploration • Three main rovers are curiosity, spirit, and opportunity. • Spirit: launched June 10, 2003/ Landed Jan 3, 2004 • Found a rock with goethite which is a sign that there was once water on Mars. • Opportunity: launched July 7, 2003/ landed Jan 24, 2004 • Observed that there was once a large body of salt water in the Planum Meridiani in a valley shaped region of Mars. • Curiosity: launched Nov 26, 2011/ Aug 6, 2012 • Investigates the Gale Crater for microbial life and asses conditions to prepare for future human exploration.
Mars Rovers • Spirit • Curiosity • Opportunity
Work Cited • http://www.universetoday.com/22603/mars-compared-to-earth/ • http://www.universetoday.com/14887/density-of-mars/ • http://science.jrank.org/pages/4147/Mars.html • http://www.universetoday.com/14894/mars-tilt/ • http://www.space.com/47-mars-the-red-planet-fourth-planet-from-the-sun.html • http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-mers-05d.html • http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/launch_e.html