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Mars 101 | National Geographic


the Babylonians called that Nergal the

the Babylonians called that Nergal the Hindus called it Mangala the Egyptians

Hindus called it Mangala the Egyptians

Hindus called it Mangala the Egyptians called it hard occur or the red one and

called it hard occur or the red one and

called it hard occur or the red one and today we know it as the red planet for

today we know it as the red planet for

today we know it as the red planet for centuries Mars has aroused our

centuries Mars has aroused our

centuries Mars has aroused our imaginations the world’s best scientists

imaginations the world’s best scientists

imaginations the world’s best scientists and people everywhere have asked

and people everywhere have asked

and people everywhere have asked themselves did life exist on Mars and

themselves did life exist on Mars and

themselves did life exist on Mars and could Mars support life in the future

could Mars support life in the future

could Mars support life in the future but what is Mars made of and could

but what is Mars made of and could

but what is Mars made of and could humans ever live there this is Mars 101

humans ever live there this is Mars 101

humans ever live there this is Mars 101 Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun while earth is 93 million miles away

while earth is 93 million miles away

while earth is 93 million miles away from the Sun Mars is from 49 million

from the Sun Mars is from 49 million

from the Sun Mars is from 49 million miles further away the combination of

miles further away the combination of

miles further away the combination of added distance and the elliptical orbit

added distance and the elliptical orbit

added distance and the elliptical orbit of Mars means that one year on the red

of Mars means that one year on the red

of Mars means that one year on the red planet lasts 687 days while orbiting the

planet lasts 687 days while orbiting the

planet lasts 687 days while orbiting the Sun much like Earth Mars has a tilt in

Sun much like Earth Mars has a tilt in

Sun much like Earth Mars has a tilt in its axis

its axis

its axis this means Mars gets seasons like we do

this means Mars gets seasons like we do

this means Mars gets seasons like we do but due to its elliptical orbit some of

but due to its elliptical orbit some of

but due to its elliptical orbit some of its seasons last longer temperatures can

its seasons last longer temperatures can

its seasons last longer temperatures can reach as low as negative 284 degrees

reach as low as negative 284 degrees

reach as low as negative 284 degrees Fahrenheit but due in part to the red

Fahrenheit but due in part to the red

Fahrenheit but due in part to the red planet’s distance from the Sun the

planet’s distance from the Sun the

planet’s distance from the Sun the average temperature on Mars is a chilly

average temperature on Mars is a chilly

average temperature on Mars is a chilly negative 81 degrees Fahrenheit another

negative 81 degrees Fahrenheit another

negative 81 degrees Fahrenheit another key difference is gravity the

key difference is gravity the

key difference is gravity the gravitational pull is much weaker on

gravitational pull is much weaker on

gravitational pull is much weaker on Mars about 62% less that means that

Mars about 62% less that means that

Mars about 62% less that means that someone who weighs a hundred pounds here

someone who weighs a hundred pounds here

someone who weighs a hundred pounds here on earth would only weigh 38 pounds on

on earth would only weigh 38 pounds on

on earth would only weigh 38 pounds on Mars Mars is about half the size of

Mars Mars is about half the size of

Mars Mars is about half the size of Earth but the landmass is similar

Earth but the landmass is similar

Earth but the landmass is similar because Mars lacks the key ingredients

because Mars lacks the key ingredients

because Mars lacks the key ingredients in supporting life water or at least

in supporting life water or at least

in supporting life water or at least bodies of water back in the day around

bodies of water back in the day around

bodies of water back in the day around 3.5 billion years ago Mars had a warm

3.5 billion years ago Mars had a warm

3.5 billion years ago Mars had a warm and thick atmosphere that allowed oceans

and thick atmosphere that allowed oceans

and thick atmosphere that allowed oceans of water to exist

of water to exist

of water to exist nowadays Mars is a frigid and arid

nowadays Mars is a frigid and arid

nowadays Mars is a frigid and arid desert world with no signs of life at

desert world with no signs of life at

desert world with no signs of life at least on the surface but new data from

least on the surface but new data from

least on the surface but new data from NASA’s reconnaissance mission shows

NASA’s reconnaissance mission shows

NASA’s reconnaissance mission shows evidence that liquid water does likely

evidence that liquid water does likely

evidence that liquid water does likely flow intermittently on the red planet

flow intermittently on the red planet

flow intermittently on the red planet another key ingredient to support life

another key ingredient to support life

another key ingredient to support life is oxygen on earth our atmosphere is

is oxygen on earth our atmosphere is

is oxygen on earth our atmosphere is made up of 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen

made up of 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen

made up of 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen on Mars it’s hard to come by oxygen at

on Mars it’s hard to come by oxygen at

on Mars it’s hard to come by oxygen at all

all

all 96% of Mars’s atmosphere is carbon

96% of Mars’s atmosphere is carbon

96% of Mars’s atmosphere is carbon dioxide with a population of over 7

dioxide with a population of over 7

dioxide with a population of over 7 billion people and climate change

billion people and climate change

billion people and climate change threatening the future of our planet

threatening the future of our planet

threatening the future of our planet Mars could be a potential future host

Mars could be a potential future host

Mars could be a potential future host planet but don’t buy your one-way ticket

planet but don’t buy your one-way ticket

planet but don’t buy your one-way ticket to Mars just yet the red planet is far

to Mars just yet the red planet is far

to Mars just yet the red planet is far from being hospitable to humans you must

from being hospitable to humans you must

from being hospitable to humans you must first survive the one-year one-way trip

first survive the one-year one-way trip

first survive the one-year one-way trip to get there once you arrive scientists

to get there once you arrive scientists

to get there once you arrive scientists estimate that without a proper spacesuit

estimate that without a proper spacesuit

estimate that without a proper spacesuit humans would die in minutes if not

humans would die in minutes if not

humans would die in minutes if not seconds the low atmospheric pressure

seconds the low atmospheric pressure

seconds the low atmospheric pressure would rupture your internal organs and

would rupture your internal organs and

would rupture your internal organs and skin and lack of oxygen cold surface

skin and lack of oxygen cold surface

skin and lack of oxygen cold surface temperatures irritating dust intense UV

temperatures irritating dust intense UV

temperatures irritating dust intense UV radiation surface chemicals and oxidants

radiation surface chemicals and oxidants

radiation surface chemicals and oxidants would ensure you die a painful death

would ensure you die a painful death

would ensure you die a painful death despite all this NASA recently announced

despite all this NASA recently announced

despite all this NASA recently announced journey to Mars an unprecedented plan

journey to Mars an unprecedented plan

journey to Mars an unprecedented plan that would put humans on Mars by 2030

that would put humans on Mars by 2030

that would put humans on Mars by 2030 with proper spacesuits mind you although

with proper spacesuits mind you although

with proper spacesuits mind you although we know a lot more about Mars than we

we know a lot more about Mars than we

we know a lot more about Mars than we ever did scientists around the world

ever did scientists around the world

ever did scientists around the world continue to study the planet and deploy

continue to study the planet and deploy

continue to study the planet and deploy missions like NASA’s spirit

missions like NASA’s spirit

missions like NASA’s spirit hury ASSA t and

hury ASSA t and

hury ASSA t and to better understand the planet and

to better understand the planet and

to better understand the planet and maybe one day find life on it or make it

maybe one day find life on it or make it

maybe one day find life on it or make it our second home

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