Interesting Facts about Mars
Posted by Stocktrekimages on February 18th, 2014
Ancient Myth about the Red planet – Mars
Before we delve into the many mysteries that planet Mars is surrounded by, let us look into the ancient history of the red planet. The early Romans considered Mars as a symbol for war and aggression. In an attempt to appease this volatile red war planet (War of God), various ancient cultures offered it human sacrifices. In today’s scientific era, Mars is no longer a mystery or an enigmatic planet for us. Mars is the second smallest in the solar system and due to its red appearance it is sometimes known as the “Red Planet”. Today, we know about Mars; how it looks, how far it is from the Earth, the time it takes to revolve its own axis, and other textbooks facts. But there is much more to the planet that adds to its mysterious charm. Some interesting facts have been collected and put together in this article.
How big is Mars?
It is hard to believe that people still carry the impression that Mars is a near-twin of Earth, but this assumption is actually false. Mars has a diameter of about half that of the earth, measuring only 6,800 km across. The total mass of this red planet is only about 10% of the total mass of the Earth and the surface gravity is only 38% of what you would actually experience on the Earth. In layman’s terms, a 100 pound person on earth would weigh only 38 pounds on Mars. This red planet is not a sphere because it rotates on its own axis and it bulges at the equator. Another name for Mars could be the “Rusty Planet” due to its rocky and dusty surface. The oxidized iron dust that covers the surface of Mars is similar to talcum powder. The soil of Mars holds nutrients such as sodium, chloride and magnesium.
Does water actually exists on Mars?
According to scientific studies, water on Mars exists almost as ice with a small amount present in the atmosphere as water vapors. Furthermore, NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft detected water beneath the surface covered by the red dust. No large reserve of standing water body has been found to exist because the atmospheric pressure at its surface averages just 600 Pascal.
Mars has almost no atmosphere. Is it true?
NASA has steadfastly claimed that there is almost no atmosphere on planet Mars. If an astronaut tries to stand out on its surface without a spacesuit, he or she would surely die within a few seconds. The freezing cold temperatures and iron dust would be a big problem. It is measured that the air pressure at the surface of Mars is only 1% of the pressure that is present on the surface of the Earth. The atmosphere of Mars consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen and some small traces of water and oxygen.
Author’s Bio
Stocktrek is a niche provider of stellar images of astronomical discoveries, space art and future exploration concepts. We have an amazing collection of astronomal objects, the solar system, alien planets, and more. of expert photographers, who have The image library successfully captures apocalyptic space scenes, space shuttles flying nearby asteroids, and dynamic space scenes that enable people to experience the real universe.
