Mars

"Fourth planet" redirects here. For other uses of "Fourth planet", see Fourth planet (disambiguation). For other uses of "Mars", seeMars (disambiguation).

Mars

Computer-generated view based on a Mars Global Surveyor image mosaic (19992004). At left,orographic water ice clouds are suspended over the shield volcanoes Olympus Mons, Alba Monsand the Tharsis Montes. The north polar summer (water) ice cap is at top, incised by Chasma Boreale. At lower right, Valles Marineris stretches east-west over 4000 km. Dark areas on the right are lacking in surface dust; the bright area at the lower right limb is the impact basin Argyre.

Designations

Pronunciation

/mrz/

Adjective

Martian

Orbital characteristics[2]

Epoch J2000

Aphelion

249,209,300 km 1.665 861 AU

Perihelion

206,669,000 km 1.381 497 AU

Semi-major axis

227,939,100 km 1.523 679 AU

Eccentricity Orbital period

0.093 315

686.971 days 1.8808 Julian years 668.5991 sols

Synodic period

779.96 days 2.135 Julian years

Average orbital speed Mean anomaly Inclination

24.077 km/s 19.3564 1.850 to ecliptic 5.65 to Sun's equator 1.67 to invariable plane[1]

Longitude of ascending node Argument of perihelion Satellites

49.562 286.537 2

Physical characteristics Equatorial radius 3,396.2 0.1 km[a][3] 0.533 Earths Polar radius 3,376.2 0.1 km[a][3] 0.531 Earths

Flattening Surface area

0.005 89 0.000 15 144,798,500 km2 0.284 Earths

Volume

1.63181011 km3[4] 0.151 Earths

Mass

6.41851023 kg[4] 0.107 Earths

Mean density Equatorial surface gravity

3.9335 0.0004[4]g/cm 3.711 m/s[4] 0.376 g

Escape velocity Sidereal rotation period

5.027 km/s

1.025 957 day 24 h 37 min 22 s[4]

Equatorial rotation velocity Axial tilt North poleright ascension

868.22 km/h (241.17 m/s) 25.19

21 h 10 min 44 s 317.681 43

North pole declination Albedo

52.886 50 0.170 (geometric)[5] 0.25 (Bond)[6]

Surface temp. Kelvin Celsius Apparent magnitude Angular diameter

min 130 K 143 C[8]

mean 210 K
[6]

max 308 K 35 C[9]

63 C

+1.6 to 3.0[7] 3.525.1"[6] Atmosphere[6][13]

Surface pressure Composition

0.636 (0.40.87) kPa

(mole fractions) 95.32% carbon dioxide 2.7% nitrogen 1.6% argon 0.13% oxygen 0.08% carbon monoxide 210 ppm water vapor 100 ppm nitric oxide 15 ppm molecular hydrogen[10] 2.5 ppm neon 850 ppb HDO 300 ppb krypton 130 ppb formaldehyde 80 ppb xenon 18 ppb hydrogen peroxide[11] 10 ppb methane[12]

Animation of Mars' rotation from the vantage of an observer who moves south, then north, to hover over both poles, showing the planet's major topographic features.

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System. Named after the Roman god of war, it is often described as the "Red Planet" because the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance.[14] Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth. The rotational period and seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar to those of Earth, as is the

tilt that produces the seasons. Mars is the site of Olympus Mons, the second highest known mountain within the Solar System (the tallest on a planet), and of Valles Marineris, one of the largest canyons. The smooth Borealis basinin the northern hemisphere covers 40% of the planet and may be a giant impact feature.[15][16] Mars has two known moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are small and irregularly shaped. These may be captured asteroids,[17][18] similar to 5261 Eureka, aMartian trojan asteroid. Until the first successful Mars flyby in 1965 by Mariner 4, many speculated about the presence of liquid water on the planet's surface. This was based on observed periodic variations in light and dark patches, particularly in the polar latitudes, which appeared to be seas and continents; long, dark striations were interpreted by some as irrigation channels for liquid water. These straight line features were later explained as optical illusions, though geological evidence gathered by unmanned missions suggest that Mars once had large-scale water coverage on its surface.[19] In 2005, radar data revealed the presence of large quantities of water ice at the poles[20] and at mid-latitudes.[21][22] The Mars rover Spirit sampled chemical compounds containing water molecules in March 2007. The Phoenix lander directly sampled water ice in shallow Martian soil on July 31, 2008.[23] Mars is currently host to five functioning spacecraft: three in orbit the Mars Odyssey,Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and two on the surface Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity and the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity. Defunct spacecraft on the surface include MER-A Spirit and several other inert landers and rovers such as the Phoenix lander, which completed its mission in 2008. Observations by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed possible flowing water during the warmest months on Mars.[24] In 2013, NASA's Curiosity rover discovered that Mars' soil contains between 1.5% and 3% water by mass (about two pints of water per cubic foot or 33 liters per cubic meter, albeit attached to other compounds and thus not freely accessible).[25] Mars can easily be seen from Earth with the naked eye, as can its reddish coloring. Itsapparent magnitude reaches 3.0,[7] which is surpassed only by Jupiter, Venus, the Moon, and the Sun. Optical groundbased telescopes are typically limited to resolving features about 300 km (186 miles) across when Earth and Mars are closest because of Earth's atmosphere.[26] NASA estimates that the comet C/2013 A1 will pass extremely close to Mars on October 19, 2014. The latest calculations suggest the comet will not impact the planet.[27][28][29]