{"id":428,"date":"2016-03-08T16:52:55","date_gmt":"2016-03-08T16:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/?page_id=428"},"modified":"2025-09-13T13:39:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T12:39:49","slug":"planet-mars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/planet-mars\/","title":{"rendered":"Planet Mars &#8211; The Red Planet"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"CenterPaneLayer\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em><span style=\"line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">Planet Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system, with a radius that is approximately half of Earth\u2019s.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Mars, often called the <strong data-start=\"87\" data-end=\"101\">Red Planet<\/strong>, has captivated the human imagination for centuries. As the <strong data-start=\"162\" data-end=\"192\">fourth planet from the Sun<\/strong> in our <strong data-start=\"200\" data-end=\"216\">solar system<\/strong>, Mars offers some of the most intriguing possibilities in planetary science\u2014from the search for alien life to becoming a future home for humanity. This article explores everything you need to <strong data-start=\"409\" data-end=\"438\">know about the Red Planet<\/strong>, including the <strong data-start=\"454\" data-end=\"477\">latest NASA science<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"479\" data-end=\"499\">facts about Mars<\/strong>, and the history of <strong data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"540\">Mars exploration<\/strong>. If you\u2019re curious about <strong data-start=\"566\" data-end=\"581\">Planet Mars<\/strong> or dreaming about humanity\u2019s journey into space, this post is a must-read.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a href=\"#How-Mars-got-its-name\">How Mars got its name<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a href=\"#Martian-Orbit\">Martian Orbit<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a href=\"#Surface-of-Planet-Mars\">Surface of Planet Mars<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a href=\"#Martian-Weather\">Martian Weather<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a href=\"#Life-on-Mars\">Life on Mars<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a href=\"#Curiosity-Rover\">Curiosity Rover<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a title=\"Illustration of the solar system with the Sun and eight planets, including Planet Neptune, arranged in order. The text Where in the Solar System? appears in the upper right corner. \u201c\u00a9 Earth Site\u201d is in the lower left corner.\" href=\"Where-in-the-Solar-System\">Where in the Solar System?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><a href=\"#Quick-Stats\">Quick Stats<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zGz8aiITgrI?si=zCHx46_fYgkM6ZuB\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id=\"CenterPaneLayer\">\n<h2 data-start=\"1117\" data-end=\"1169\">What Makes Mars So Unique in the Solar System?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1171\" data-end=\"1553\">Mars is the <strong data-start=\"1183\" data-end=\"1229\">second smallest planet in the solar system<\/strong>, just <strong data-start=\"1236\" data-end=\"1262\">half the size of Earth<\/strong>. Despite its size, it has drawn major attention due to its Earth-like features. Known as the <strong data-start=\"1356\" data-end=\"1386\">fourth planet from the Sun<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1388\" data-end=\"1403\">Mars is one<\/strong> of the most studied celestial bodies thanks to its relatively moderate <strong data-start=\"1475\" data-end=\"1500\">distance from the Sun<\/strong> and the potential it holds for scientific discovery.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1555\" data-end=\"1928\">The <strong data-start=\"1559\" data-end=\"1569\">planet<\/strong> has <strong data-start=\"1574\" data-end=\"1587\">two moons<\/strong>, named Phobos and Deimos, which are small and irregularly shaped. Unlike other rocky planets, Mars has a thin <strong data-start=\"1698\" data-end=\"1712\">atmosphere<\/strong> made mostly of carbon dioxide. This makes it difficult to retain heat, resulting in extreme temperatures. The planet\u2019s polar regions feature a <strong data-start=\"1856\" data-end=\"1873\">polar ice cap<\/strong>, further evidence of the planet\u2019s dynamic environment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>How Mars got its name<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Mars\/Mars in the night sky\/Mars in the Night Sky.gif\" alt=\"Mars in the night sky\" width=\"597\" height=\"359\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">Mars was named after the roman god of war, due to its red colour and apparent erratic movement in the sky. Observing from earth mars appears to travel in one direction, then loop back on itself before traveling on its original path. In fact mars has a perfectly normal orbit, as shown in the animation below, but the combination of both orbits and our position in relation to mars is the cause of this illusion. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Martian Orbit<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px 20px;\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Mars\/Orbit of Mars\/Orbit of Mars.gif\" alt=\"Orbit of Planet Mars\" width=\"377\" height=\"446\" align=\"left\" hspace=\"12\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">The animation on the left shows the orbits of Mars and Earth to explain the seemingly erratic orbit that was, in part, the reason why Mars was named after the Roman god of war. Initially the planet Mars appears from Earth to be travelling east to west in the night sky of the northern hemisphere. Once the Earth \u2018overtakes\u2019 Mars it appears as if Mars jumps back in the opposite direction before continuing in its original path.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">This event (known as the Martian retrograde) takes place every 2 years and is only noticeable if the position of mars is plotted over a period of several months.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Mars\/Mars apparent retrograde in our night sky.jpg\" alt=\"Martian Retrograde\" width=\"623\" height=\"371\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2481\" data-end=\"2526\">How Far Is Mars From the Sun and Earth?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2528\" data-end=\"2774\">The <strong data-start=\"2532\" data-end=\"2557\">distance from the Sun<\/strong> to Mars is roughly 142 million miles (228 million kilometres), which places it as the <strong data-start=\"2644\" data-end=\"2674\">fourth planet from the Sun<\/strong>. Its <strong data-start=\"2680\" data-end=\"2701\">orbit around Mars<\/strong> is elliptical, meaning this distance varies throughout the Martian year.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2776\" data-end=\"3108\">The average <strong data-start=\"2788\" data-end=\"2823\">distance between Earth and Mars<\/strong> is about 225 million kilometres (140 million miles), though this changes due to the elliptical orbits of both planets. <strong data-start=\"2943\" data-end=\"2961\">Earth and Mars<\/strong> align favourably for missions about every 26 months, which is why <strong data-start=\"3027\" data-end=\"3044\">NASA missions<\/strong> are often timed with these windows to <strong data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3107\">reach the Red Planet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3115\" data-end=\"3168\">What Are the Most Fascinating Facts About Mars?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3170\" data-end=\"3391\">Let\u2019s dive into some compelling <strong data-start=\"3202\" data-end=\"3222\">facts about Mars<\/strong>. First, a <strong data-start=\"3233\" data-end=\"3248\">day on Mars<\/strong> (called a &#8220;sol&#8221;) is just over 24 hours, very similar to Earth&#8217;s. However, a <strong data-start=\"3325\" data-end=\"3341\">year on Mars<\/strong> is nearly 687 Earth days due to its longer orbit.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3393\" data-end=\"3695\">Another <strong data-start=\"3401\" data-end=\"3414\">Mars fact<\/strong>: the <strong data-start=\"3420\" data-end=\"3449\">surface of the Red Planet<\/strong> is home to the tallest volcano in the <strong data-start=\"3488\" data-end=\"3504\">solar system<\/strong>, Olympus Mons, and the deepest canyon, Valles Marineris. These massive geological features are key highlights in any <strong data-start=\"3622\" data-end=\"3639\">atlas of Mars<\/strong> and are still being studied for signs of past activity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3702\" data-end=\"3747\">What\u2019s the Surface of Mars Really Like?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3749\" data-end=\"3989\">The <strong data-start=\"3753\" data-end=\"3772\">surface of Mars<\/strong> is a rugged and diverse terrain made of dust, sand, and rock. From massive volcanoes to dried-up riverbeds, the <strong data-start=\"3885\" data-end=\"3904\">Martian surface<\/strong> tells a story of geological activity that likely occurred <strong data-start=\"3963\" data-end=\"3988\">billions of years ago<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3991\" data-end=\"4367\"><strong data-start=\"3991\" data-end=\"4010\">Craters on Mars<\/strong> indicate frequent meteor impacts, and the <strong data-start=\"4053\" data-end=\"4071\">mantle of Mars<\/strong> contributes to its tectonic structure. Robotic rovers like the <strong data-start=\"4135\" data-end=\"4159\">Curiosity Mars Rover<\/strong> have <strong data-start=\"4165\" data-end=\"4196\">touched down on the surface<\/strong>, capturing invaluable data. These missions suggest that <strong data-start=\"4253\" data-end=\"4273\">Mars was created<\/strong> through processes similar to Earth\u2019s, but lacked the tectonic activity needed to sustain life.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system, with a radius that is approximately half of Earth\u2019s. Its surface area (144,798,500 km\u00b2, 89,973,616 mi\u00b2) is a little less than the total surface area of land on Earth (148,940,000 km\u00b2 or 57,506,055 mi\u00b2)<\/p>\n<p>Also known as the \u2018Red Planet\u2019 due to its colouration from the iron oxide (hematite or rust) that covers the surface.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Martian Weather<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">Planet Mars, like Earth, has a tilt on its axis known as its obliquity, Earths tilt is currently at 23.44 degrees while the planet Mars has an inclination of 25.19 degrees. Its Earths obliquity which gives us our seasons however the seasons on Mars last much longer than ours. This tilt has caused ice deposits to form on its poles which, like on Earth, grow and recede with the seasons. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Mars\/Martian Seasons.png\" alt=\"Seasons on Planet Mars\" width=\"730\" height=\"1079\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">In 2008 NASA\u2019s Mars Phoenix Lander not only found water at the North Polar Region but observed precipitation, similar to snow, falling from clouds. Analysis of soil in that region suggested that this was a relatively new climate which would have been warmer and wetter a few million years before.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Life on Mars<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Mars\/Percival Lowell lfe-on-mars newspaper.jpg\" alt=\"Life on Mars 1906\" width=\"602\" height=\"305\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">On the 6<sup>th<\/sup> of December 1906 the article above appeared in the New York Times. Percival Lowell, probably most famous for his work in discovering Pluto, was one of many astronomers that had seen lines across the face of planet mars. Like Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli, who saw this phenomenon in 1877, Lowell was convinced that they were canals built by an advanced civilisation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">On Earth the Suez Canal, one of the greatest engineering feats of the time, was completed on the 17<sup>th<\/sup> of November 1869. It linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean allowing merchant ships to trade between Europe and Asia without having to travel around the African continent. And by 1903 work had begun on the <a title=\"Panama\" href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/panama\/\">Panama<\/a> Canal which would allow ships to travel between the north and South American Continents. The use and growth of canal networks had also been vastly increased throughout the civilised world for use in industry and these canal networks created many criss-crossing straight lines in the landscape similar to those witnessed by astronomers on the face of mars.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Earth and Moon\/FLAMMARION_1892_MarsCanal__map - public domain.jpg\" alt=\"Martian Canals map\" width=\"800\" height=\"436\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Schiaparelli\u2019s map of the Martian canals from 1892 (public domain image).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Since the 1960\u2019s NASA has been spacecraft to the planet and we now know that these canals, and indeed civilisations do not exist on mars. The canals seen by many observers were no more than an illusion created by the brain. Even the very best telescopes of the day were not able to show mars in great detail and the brain attempted to form the best image it could.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">Many probes and landers have visited the planet but no signs of life have been found or that life could exist on mars. That is not to say that there was never life on mars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"4374\" data-end=\"4418\">What NASA Missions Have Explored Mars?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4420\" data-end=\"4777\"><strong data-start=\"4420\" data-end=\"4435\">NASA\u2019s Mars<\/strong> missions have played a key role in our understanding of the <strong data-start=\"4496\" data-end=\"4510\">Red Planet<\/strong>. Early efforts like the <strong data-start=\"4535\" data-end=\"4559\">Mars Global Surveyor<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"4564\" data-end=\"4588\">Mars Odyssey Orbiter<\/strong> provided detailed mapping and atmospheric data. <strong data-start=\"4637\" data-end=\"4653\">Mars Express<\/strong>, operated by the European Space Agency but working closely with <strong data-start=\"4718\" data-end=\"4734\">NASA science<\/strong> initiatives, has been orbiting since 2003.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4779\" data-end=\"5096\">Current missions include <strong data-start=\"4804\" data-end=\"4842\">NASA\u2019s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter<\/strong>, which delivers high-resolution images of the <strong data-start=\"4889\" data-end=\"4908\">Martian surface<\/strong>, and the <strong data-start=\"4918\" data-end=\"4945\">Mars Science Laboratory<\/strong>, which deployed the <strong data-start=\"4966\" data-end=\"4985\">Curiosity Rover<\/strong>. Future plans include the <strong data-start=\"5012\" data-end=\"5034\">Mars Sample Return<\/strong> mission, aimed at bringing <strong data-start=\"5062\" data-end=\"5081\">samples of Mars<\/strong> back to Earth.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"5098\" data-end=\"5101\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"5103\" data-end=\"5152\">Is There Evidence That Mars Once Had Water?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5154\" data-end=\"5361\">Yes, there is compelling <strong data-start=\"5179\" data-end=\"5201\">evidence that Mars<\/strong> once had flowing water. Dry river valleys and sedimentary rock layers observed by the <strong data-start=\"5288\" data-end=\"5319\">Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter<\/strong> and other spacecraft support this theory.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5363\" data-end=\"5696\">In fact, regions studied show signs of ancient lakes and even oceans, suggesting the <strong data-start=\"5448\" data-end=\"5467\">planet was warm<\/strong> and had a thicker atmosphere <strong data-start=\"5497\" data-end=\"5522\">billions of years ago<\/strong>. The presence of a <strong data-start=\"5542\" data-end=\"5559\">polar ice cap<\/strong> today and findings related to <strong data-start=\"5590\" data-end=\"5609\">changes on Mars<\/strong> indicate that <strong data-start=\"5624\" data-end=\"5641\">water on Mars<\/strong> was once abundant, possibly supporting microbial life.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"5698\" data-end=\"5701\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"5703\" data-end=\"5737\">Could There Be Life on Mars?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5739\" data-end=\"5941\">The question of <strong data-start=\"5755\" data-end=\"5771\">life on Mars<\/strong> has intrigued scientists and the public alike. While there is no direct evidence of current life, the possibility that life <strong data-start=\"5896\" data-end=\"5915\">existed on Mars<\/strong> in the past remains open.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5943\" data-end=\"6242\">The search continues through missions like <strong data-start=\"5986\" data-end=\"6020\">NASA\u2019s Mars Science Laboratory<\/strong> and upcoming <strong data-start=\"6034\" data-end=\"6056\">Mars Sample Return<\/strong> projects. Understanding the <strong data-start=\"6085\" data-end=\"6107\">atmosphere of Mars<\/strong> and discovering biosignatures could one day confirm that Mars is the second <strong data-start=\"6184\" data-end=\"6215\">planet we know of inhabited<\/strong> by life\u2014if only microbial.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"6244\" data-end=\"6247\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"6249\" data-end=\"6285\">Will Humans Ever Live on Mars?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"6287\" data-end=\"6506\">A <strong data-start=\"6289\" data-end=\"6314\">human mission to Mars<\/strong> is no longer science fiction. <strong data-start=\"6345\" data-end=\"6353\">NASA<\/strong>, along with private companies like SpaceX, is actively planning to <strong data-start=\"6421\" data-end=\"6444\">send humans to Mars<\/strong>. These missions could take place within the next two decades.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6508\" data-end=\"6875\">Challenges include developing sustainable habitats, solving the problem of radiation, and ensuring food and water supply on the <strong data-start=\"6636\" data-end=\"6653\">entire planet<\/strong>. Still, progress is being made, and the dream of <strong data-start=\"6703\" data-end=\"6720\">going to Mars<\/strong> is <strong data-start=\"6724\" data-end=\"6754\">slowly moving towards Mars<\/strong> becoming a reality. The eventual goal is to <strong data-start=\"6799\" data-end=\"6825\">explore the Red Planet<\/strong> not just with machines, but with human footsteps.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"6877\" data-end=\"6880\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"6882\" data-end=\"6932\">What Is the Future of NASA Science on Mars?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"6934\" data-end=\"7182\">The future of <strong data-start=\"6948\" data-end=\"6964\">NASA science<\/strong> on Mars includes advanced missions that will push the boundaries of technology and planetary exploration. The <strong data-start=\"7075\" data-end=\"7103\">Mars Exploration Program<\/strong> is coordinating robotic exploration and preparing for eventual human landings.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7184\" data-end=\"7543\">The next frontier includes the <strong data-start=\"7215\" data-end=\"7257\">Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution<\/strong> (MAVEN) mission, the continuation of <strong data-start=\"7295\" data-end=\"7311\">Mars Express<\/strong>, and the much-anticipated <strong data-start=\"7338\" data-end=\"7360\">Mars Sample Return<\/strong> mission. Tools like the <strong data-start=\"7385\" data-end=\"7401\">Mars Orbiter<\/strong> and new landers will help create an <strong data-start=\"7438\" data-end=\"7455\">atlas of Mars<\/strong> like never before, tracking <strong data-start=\"7484\" data-end=\"7503\">changes on Mars<\/strong> and assessing its suitability for life.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt;\">Curiosity Rover<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Mars\/NASA Mars Rover.PNG\" alt=\"Curiosity Rover on Planet Mars\" width=\"418\" height=\"344\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">In August 2012 one of NASA\u2019s Mars rovers named Curiosity landed on the Martian surface in the Gale Crater. Its chief mission was to determine the habitability for life on Mars; a feat NASA scientist hoped Curiosity would accomplish mid-2013. However on the 9th of February 2013 the mars rover was drilling and analysing rocks in an area known as Yellowknife Bay, an area believed to be an ancient streambed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">Analysing the rocks on Curiosity\u2019s on-board laboratory the samples showed to contain 20% and 30% smectite which is a clay mineral that forms when water is present. Curiosity also detected minerals that indicate the water could have carried energy suitable for microbes as well as\u00a0a neutral ph.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">It is believed that this life supporting water would have been a liquid on the surface of Mars, billions of years ago, during a time when on Earth life would have just started. This water has since been lost due to the reduction of the Martian atmosphere and magnetosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">In March 2013, at a meeting in Texas, analysis was presented from three different Mars rovers showing hydrated minerals scattered throughout the Yellowknife Bay region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">John Grotzinger, a project scientist at NASA beliefs the water to be \u201cso benign and supportive of life that probably if this water had been around and you had been on the planet, you would have been able to drink it\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">If this is the case it may prove valuable to the possibility of one day colonising the Red Planet. It is now believed, due to discoveries by Odyssey, that there is much frozen water below the surface of Mars, which if drinkable, could be drilled and used to support life today. The hope is that if the indications are correct and the water on Mars was once safe for us to drink then so may be the water locked under the Martian surface. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\">Source:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/mg21729094.400-curiositys-discoveries-hint-at-lifes-cradle-on-mars.html\">http:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/mg21729094.400-curiositys-discoveries-hint-at-lifes-cradle-on-mars.html<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Where in the Solar System?<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12.0pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Education\/Images\/Astronomy\/Mars\/Where in the Solar System.PNG\" alt=\"Where is Mars inthe Solar System\" width=\"674\" height=\"408\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt;\">Quick Stats<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table class=\"MsoTableGrid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\"><a title=\"Martian Moons &#8211; The Two Moons of Mars Phobos and Deimos\" href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/martian-moons\">Moons<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Rings<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Orbit Period<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">686.98 Earth Days<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Rotation Period<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">24.62 Hours<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Equatorial Radius<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">3,397 km (2,111 miles)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Overall Density<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">3.934 g\/cm3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Mass (Earth = 1)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">0.10744<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Gravity (Earth = 1)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">0.38<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Minimum Temperature<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">-87\u00b0C (-124\u00b0F or 186 \u00b0K)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 196.8pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"262\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">Maximum Temperature<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 265.3pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"354\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal style92\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';\">-5\u00b0C (23\u00b0F or 268 \u00b0K)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planet Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system, with a radius that is approximately half of Earth\u2019s. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_edit_last":["1"],"_edit_lock":["1747917986:1"],"_wp_page_template":["default"],"ttr_page_title_checkbox":["true"],"ttr_page_foot_checkbox":["true"],"ttr_header_size_select":["None"],"ttr_background_repeat_enable_checkbox":["true"],"ttr_change_header_image_text":[""],"ttr_background_size_select":["None"],"ttr_header_repeat_enable_checkbox":["true"],"ttr_custom_style_text":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":["Planet Mars"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":["Planet Mars"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["Planet Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system, with a radius that is approximately half of Earth\u2019s but with almost as much land area."],"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":["76"],"ampforwp-amp-on-off":["default"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["487"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["11"],"_yoast_wpseo_wordproof_timestamp":[""],"_thumbnail_id":["7979"],"_et_pb_use_builder":[""],"_et_pb_old_content":[""],"_et_gb_content_width":[""],"ast-featured-img":["disabled"],"theme-transparent-header-meta":["default"],"adv-header-id-meta":[""],"stick-header-meta":[""],"footnotes":[""],"rank_math_primary_category":["487"],"rank_math_description":["Planet Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system, with a radius that is approximately half of Earth\u2019s but with almost as much land area."],"rank_math_focus_keyword":["Planet Mars"],"rank_math_news_sitemap_robots":["index"],"rank_math_robots":["a:1:{i:0;s:5:\"index\";}"],"_et_builder_version":["BB|Divi|4.27.4"],"_et_pb_ab_stats_refresh_interval":["hourly"],"_et_pb_enable_shortcode_tracking":[""],"_et_pb_custom_css":[""],"_et_pb_gutter_width":["3"],"_global_colors_info":[""],"site-sidebar-layout":["default"],"ast-site-content-layout":["default"],"site-content-style":["default"],"site-sidebar-style":["default"],"astra-migrate-meta-layouts":["set"],"_wds_opengraph":["a:3:{s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"images\";a:1:{i:0;s:0:\"\";}}"],"_wds_twitter":["a:3:{s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"images\";a:1:{i:0;s:0:\"\";}}"],"_wds_focus-keywords":["Planet Mars"],"_wds_title":[""],"_wds_metadesc":["Planet Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system, with a radius that is approximately half of Earth\u2019s but with almost as much land area."],"_wds_meta-robots-adv":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-nofollow":[""],"_wds_canonical":[""],"_et_dynamic_cached_shortcodes":["a:0:{}"],"_et_dynamic_cached_attributes":["a:0:{}"]},"categories":[145,487,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-astronomy","category-mars","category-physics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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