Mars

Mars
Orange-brown globe with white snow caps
Mars in true color,[a] as captured by the Hope orbiter. The Tharsis Montes can be seen at the center, with Olympus Mons just to the left and Valles Marineris at the right.
Designations
Adjectives
Symbol♂
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch J2000
Aphelion249261000 km
(1.66621 AU)[2]
Perihelion206650000 km
(1.3814 AU)[2]
227939366 km
(1.52368055 AU)[3]
Eccentricity0.0934[2]
686.980 d
(1.88085 yr; 668.5991 sols)[2]
779.94 d
(2.1354 yr)[3]
24.07 km/s[2]
19.412°[2]
Inclination
49.57854°[2]
2022-Jun-21[5]
286.5°[3]
Satellites2 (Phobos and Deimos)
Physical characteristics
3389.5±0.2 km[b][6]
Equatorial radius
3396.2±0.1 km[b][6]
(0.533 Earths)
Polar radius
3376.2±0.1 km[b][6]
(0.531 Earths)
Flattening0.00589±0.00015[5][6]
1.4437×108 km2[7]
(0.284 Earths)
Volume1.63118×1011 km3[8]
(0.151 Earths)
Mass6.4171×1023 kg[9]
(0.107 Earths)
Mean density
3.9335 g/cm3[8]
3.72076 m/s2 (0.3794 g0)[10]
0.3644±0.0005[9]
5.027 km/s
(18100 km/h)[11]
1.02749125 d[12]
24h 39m 36s
1.025957 d
24h 37m 22.7s[8]
Equatorial rotation velocity
241 m/s
(870 km/h)[2]
25.19° to its orbital plane[2]
North pole right ascension
317.269°[13]
North pole declination
54.432°[13]
Albedo
Temperature209 K (−64 °C) (blackbody temperature)[15]
Surface temp. min mean max
  −110 °C[16] −60 °C[17] 35 °C[16]
Surface absorbed dose rate8.8 μGy/h[18]
Surface equivalent dose rate27 μSv/h[18]
−2.94 to +1.86[19]
−1.5[20]
3.5–25.1″[2]
Atmosphere[2][21]
Surface pressure
0.636 (0.4–0.87) kPa
0.00628 atm
Composition by volume

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is nicknamed "the Red Planet" for its orange-red appearance readily visible from Earth.[22][23] It is a rocky planet and the second smallest in the Solar System, with half the diameter of Earth, at 6,779 km (4,212 mi). In terms of orbital motion, a Martian solar day (sol) is equal to 24.6 hours, and a Martian solar year is equal to 1.88 Earth years (687 Earth days). Mars has two natural satellites that are small and irregular in shape: Phobos and Deimos.

The relatively flat plains in northern parts of Mars strongly contrast with the cratered terrain in southern highlands – this terrain observation is known as the Martian dichotomy. Mars hosts many enormous extinct volcanoes (the tallest is Olympus Mons, 21.9 km or 13.6 mi tall) and one of the largest canyons in the Solar System (Valles Marineris, 4,000 km or 2,500 mi long). Geologically, the planet is fairly active with marsquakes trembling underneath the ground, dust devils sweeping across the landscape, and cirrus clouds. Carbon dioxide is substantially present in Mars's polar ice caps and thin atmosphere. During a year, the average surface temperature swings between −78.5 °C (−109.3 °F) to 5.7 °C (42.3 °F)[c] similar to Earth's seasons, as both planets have significant axial tilt, Earth at 23.5 degrees and Mars at 25 degrees.

Mars was formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago. During the Noachian period (4.5 to 3.5 billion years ago), Mars's surface was marked by meteor impacts, valley formation, erosion, and the possible presence of water oceans. The Hesperian period (3.5 to 3.3–2.9 billion years ago) was dominated by widespread volcanic activity and flooding that carved immense outflow channels. The Amazonian period, which continues to the present, has been marked by the wind as a dominant influence on geological processes. Due to Mars's geological history, the possibility of past or present life on Mars remains an area of active scientific investigation.

Mars has been observed throughout history and has been an element in many cultures with different associations. In 1963 the first flight to Mars took place with the en-route lost Mars 1. The first successful exploration of Mars came about in 1965 with Mariner 4. 1971 saw the very first orbit around Mars and anywhere beyond the Moon (Mariner 9), as well as the first (uncontrolled) impact (Mars 2) and landing (Mars 3) on Mars. As of 2023, there are at least 11 active probes orbiting Mars or on the Martian surface. Mars is an attractive target for future human exploration missions, though in the 2020s no such mission is planned.


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