Unique Facts About Mars
Mars, often called the "Red Planet," has captivated humanity for centuries. It holds a unique position in our solar system, offering several fascinating and distinct characteristics.
Martian Geography
Mars is home to the largest volcano and the deepest canyon in the solar system, making its surface one of the most dramatically featured worlds we know.
Olympus Mons
Olympus Mons is a massive shield volcano, the largest known volcano in the solar system.
|
Characteristic |
Measurement |
Comparison |
|---|---|---|
|
Height |
Approximately 13.6 miles (22 km) |
Roughly three times the height of Mount Everest |
|
Base Diameter |
Approximately 370 miles (600 km) |
About the size of Arizona |
|
Type |
Shield volcano |
Formed by highly fluid lava flows over a long period |
Valles Marineris
Valles Marineris is an extensive canyon system near the Martian equator.
It is significantly larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon on Earth. The name is a tribute to the Mariner 9 probe, which discovered it in 1971.
Climate and Atmosphere
While Mars is a cold, desert world today, evidence suggests it was once a wet, warmer planet. Its current atmosphere is thin and compositionally different from Earth's.
The Thin Atmosphere
The Martian atmosphere is extremely thin, with a surface pressure less than 1% of Earth's.
- Primary Composition: Over 95% Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)
- Temperature Range: Varies from -225°F (-153°C) at the winter poles to 70°F (20°C) near the equator in summer
- Unique Feature: Because of the thin atmosphere, liquid water cannot exist for long on the surface; it either freezes instantly or boils away.
Global Dust Storms
Mars is famous for its massive, planet-engulfing dust storms. These storms can cover the entire planet and last for months, sometimes blocking out sunlight and drastically affecting the surface temperature.
Moons and Orbit
Mars has two small, irregularly shaped natural satellites, Phobos and Deimos, which are thought to be captured asteroids.
|
Moon |
Size and Shape |
Orbital Path |
Future |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Phobos |
Irregularly shaped, about 14 miles (22 km) across |
Orbits Mars three times a day |
Slowly spiraling inward; expected to crash or break up in 50 million years |
|
Deimos |
Smaller than Phobos, about 7.5 miles (12 km) across |
Orbits much farther out than Phobos |
Expected to continue orbiting |
Water Ice and Subsurface Exploration
While surface liquid water is unstable, scientists have confirmed the presence of vast amounts of water ice.
- Polar Ice Caps: Both the north and south poles have permanent ice caps. These caps are primarily composed of water ice, with a layer of frozen $CO_2$ (dry ice) that grows and shrinks seasonally.
- Subsurface Ice: Significant amounts of water ice are located just below the surface across large areas of the planet. This is a primary resource for future human exploration efforts.
- Ancient Evidence: Evidence, such as dried-up riverbeds and mineral deposits, strongly suggests that a vast ocean once covered up to a third of the planet's northern hemisphere.