Mars has always been a mysterious planet since its discovery. Scientist are trying hard to spot signs of life on Mars. The results are quite encouraging because many signs are found on the planet which support life. Unlike other planets we humans are always attracted by the beauty of planet Mars. Let’s explore fun facts about Mars.
Read on to discover undeniably amazing fun facts on Mars
Fourth Planet from the Sun
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. Our Earth is the third.
Why Mars is called Red Planet?
Because of its reddish-brown surface Mars is called Red Planet of the solar system. The red tint is due to the presence of iron oxide minerals on the surface.
How small Mars is?
Though Mercury is the smallest planet of the solar system. Mars is the second smallest planet.
Mars has how many natural satellites
How will it feel to live on a planet with two moons? Isn’t amazing? Mars has two moons named Phobos and Deimos. The word Phobos means “fear” and Deimos means “panic”. Both these moons are named after the sons of Roman god of war.
Largest Volcano
It seems weird that even solar system has volcanos. It is even more interesting to know that Mars is home to largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons. The volcano was discovered in 19th century. The mountain is 22 km tall. It means Mars’s Mountain is three times taller than Mount Everest.
Confusions about Discovery
No one really knows when the planet was first sighted. However, ancient Egyptians were the first who observed Mars in 2nd Millennium BCE. While Egyptians called it “Her Desher” or Red One, Chinese Aastromers recognized it as “Fire star”. But it was Galileo Galilei who noticed the planet with the help telescope in 1610.
Mars Rotation around Sun
It take Planet Mars 686.93 Earth days to complete single rotation around Sun. The planet travels at a speed of 53,979 miles/hour to orbit the sun.
Mars distance from the Sun
The distance of Mars from the sun is 227,900,000 km or 141 million miles.
Seasons on Mars
Mars has seasons like Earth. But the duration of how long a season prevail is twice than Earth. So how long are the seasons on Mars? Summer goes on for 6 months while winter for four months. Similarly fall lasts for five months and spring for six months.
Where the name has come from?
The planet got its name from the Roman god of War. The name was given to the planet by Romans because of its red color. Furthermore, Greek recognize it after their god of war as Ares.
Low Surface Gravity
The surface gravity on Mars is comparatively low than Earth. It is 38 percent of Earth. So on Mars you will feel lighter regardless of your original weight. On Mars you can jump three times higher than what you can on Earth.
How long is the day on Mars?
Seriously, this fact about Mars is going to surprise you. Would you believe a day on Mars is 24 hours 39 minutes and 35 seconds long? OMG! That’s pretty interesting.
How long is a Year on Mars?
Unlike Martian days the year is quite long. A year on Mars is equivalent to 687 Earth days.
Liquid Water on Mars
Recently scientist have discovered reservoirs of liquid water on Mars. According to a study conducted by European Space Agency, there is a 19.3 km stretch of water beneath the south polar ice cap of Mars. A principle investigator of MARSIS Radar, Roberto Orosei from Italian Institute of Astrophysics, said: “This is just one small study area, it is an exciting prospect to think there could be more of these underground pockets of water elsewhere, yet to be discovered”.
Landmass
Interesting enough the landmass on Mars is the same as of Earth. However, the landmass of Mars is only 10 percent than that of Earth.
Is Mars Dangerous for Humans?
There are many factors that support life on Earth. One of them is air composition. The air on Mars is thin and contain high concentration of carbon dioxide which makes it impossible to survive on Mars without a spacesuit.
Sky of Mars
If you have any plans to colonize Mars just like Elon Musk then you should be aware of the fact that the sky of Mars is red instead of blue. In fact, Mars is rocky and dusty planet. Dust storms cover the planet quite often. These storms also cause soil erosion on the planet.
How sun looks on Mars
Mars is the last terrestrial planet of the solar system. Sun looks half of its size on Mars.
Polar Ice Caps on Mars
Though there are polar ice caps on Mars but these polar caps are formed of frozen carbon dioxide rather than water.
Why Mars has Seasons like Earth
The axis of the planet Mars is tilted at the same angle as that of Earth’s axis. The axis are tilt at an angle of 25.19°.
Missions to Mars
Many missions have sent to Mars but only one third of them proved successful. In total there are 39 missions to Mars, only 16 of them were triumphant.
Mars Temperature
There is no thermal blanket on Mars. Due to which the planet cannot retain heat. The average temperature recorded on Mars is -60 degree Celsius or – 80 degree Fahrenheit. In winters, the temperature can drop to -125 degree Celsius on poles. While in summers temperature changes frequently from day to night. In day the temperature can rise up to 20 degree Celsius and at night the temperature can drop to -73 degree Celsius.
Mars Atmosphere
The atmospheric composition of Mars is thin. Therefore it doesn’t support the existence of liquid water. Fortunately, the atmosphere is dense enough to allow the formation of clouds. The weather patterns are strange that in winter most of the air get frozen.
Dust Storms That Lasts for Months
Strange? Mars experience largest dust storms in the solar system. The reason is Mars orbit around the sun is elliptical. The dust storms arise due to elliptical orbit can go on for months.
Criss-Crossing Canals
Some people misunderstood the concept of “Channels” explained by Giovanni Schiaparelli in 1877. Giovanni named the steaks on Mars as “canali”. So people thought humans may have made these channels on Mars. But in 1964 a mission Mariner 4 found no signs of life on Mars.
Mars Curiosity Rover
It was Mars Curiosity Rover which found the existence of liquid water on Mars. The mission was landed on Mars in 2011 to find the indications of life.
Meteorites from Mars
All the meteorites that landed on Earth are from Mars.
Marsquakes
The “InSight” Mission of NASA was sent to Mars to determine about the core of the planet. The tectonic activity beneath the Martian surface adjudge the occurrence of marsquakes.
No Magnetic Field
The liquid core of the planet produce magnetic field but Mars doesn’t have one. Though Mars does have a magnetosphere which protects it from charged space objects.
Mars moons are very small
The size of moons on Mars is small. Phobos has a diameter of 22.2 km while the diameter of Deimos is 12.6 km.
Do have any plans to shift on Mars
Well, if you have then be ready to move to our new home. Because NASA is planning to colonize Mars by 2030.
Flag for Mars
An engineer from NASA has sketch a flag for Mars.
Visibility from Earth
Mars is among those planets which are visible from Earth.
A ring will form under Mars
According to scientist one moon of Mars (Phobos) will be destroyed due to gravitational forces. The pieces of it will form a ring around Mars that can last for 100 million years. Don’t worry this phenomena will happen after 20-40 million years.
Was there life on Mars
NASA sent two missions on Mars to determine whether life existed on Mars or not. Unfortunately, Viking Rover mission destroyed the complex molecules it found. But still scientist are hopeful because the Curiosity Rover discovered the presence of methane gas.
Is there Ozone layer on Mars?
Excitingly, ozone layer is present on Mars but it is 300 times thin than the ozone layer on Earth. That’s why the harmful radiations from sun directly falls on the surface.
Word March
The name of the month March is extracted from the planet’s name.
Utopia Planitia-Largest Crater
The largest crater in the solar system is present on Mars. It is named as Utopia Planitia. This crater is so large that its size is half the diameter of Mars.
Who Discovered the Moons
It was Asaph Hall, an American astronomer, who discovered the moons of Mars in 1877.
First Space Capsule to visit Mars
In 1965, Mariner 4 was the first space shuttle to visit Mars.
Alien Skull
It is said that NASA destroyed the alien skull of dinosaur which they found on Mars.
Hope you enjoyed reading these fun facts on Mars. Come back for more fun facts.
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