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Information about Mars
Mars is the fourth planet in our solar system and it is the second-smallest planet in our solar system. It was named after the English name Mars, a Roman deity.
Iron oxide is very high on its surface due to which its color is dark red, hence it is also known as the red planet. This Planet can be seen with open eyes.
This planet does not have its own magnetic field. It is a terrestrial planet whose atmosphere is very thin. This planet has two moons - Phobos and Deimos.
Mars takes 687 days to revolve around the Sun according to Earth's day. Galileo discovered this planet through his telescope.
Physical Characteristics of Mars
On the surface of Mars, minerals including iron are found in a very high state. Iron is also present in a lot of dust and stones found on the surface. The minerals of iron get oxidized due to which the soil there is red.
Due to the cold and thin atmosphere here, liquid water does not remain stable for long. Mars is half of the Earth in diameter, but the terrain there is about half of the Earth. There are some very high mountains and deep valleys of the solar system on this planet. The mountain named Olympus Mono is 27 km long. On the other side, there is a valley called Valles Maarineries which is 10 km deep and 4000 km wide.
On this planet, the largest active volcano in the solar system is named Olympus Mons. Its diameter is 600 km. It sits in the form of a shield which will be formed when the flowing lava is lost. There are also many other active volcanoes here. Scientists believe that the Valles Marineris may have formed from the stretch and spread of the crust part. There are also many valleys inside this valley that are spread over 100 km. Looking at the deep marks present on the surface of these valleys, it seems as if water must have been present here at some time.
Due to the distance from the Sun, the temperature of Mars is much lower than the of Earth. The average temperature here is minus 60॰ Celsius. The temperature during the winter season is minus 125॰ Celsius. Carbon dioxide is predominant in the atmosphere here and is 100 times less dense than the Earth. Carbon dioxide gas accumulates during the winter season.
Researches about Mars
- Based on the study of soil and other samples there, scientists have said that the atmosphere of Mars was earlier very dense and thick, due to which there were sources of water on its surface.
- Here icy clouds including carbon dioxide are formed in winter.
- Extremely dusty thunderstorms run on Mars, which remain seated for many months. Due to the strong wind, a large number of dust flies, due to which the whole atmosphere becomes hot.
- To know about this planet, NASA started sending missions here in the 1960s. This showed that Mars is a barren planet. As if there were supposed to be no signs of life there. In the year 1971, the Mariner 9 mission circled Mars and measured 80 percent of it. It also discovered volcanoes and valleys.
