why would you want to visit?

2
Orbit & Rotation: Like the other planets in the solar system, Mars travels around the sun in an elliptical (oval) orbit. But the orbit of Mars is slightly more "stretched out" than the orbits of Earth and most of the other planets. Mars travels around the sun once every 687 Earth days; this is the length of the Martian year. Mass & Density: Earth is about 10 times as massive as Mars. Mars's density is roughly 70 percent of the density of Earth. Because Mars is so much smaller and less dense than Earth the force of gravity is much less than that on Earth. For example, if someone dropped a rock, the rock would fall to the surface more slowly than the same rock would fall to Earth. Physical Features: Scientists suspect that the average thickness of the Martian crust is about 30 miles. The mantle of Mars is probably similar in composition to Earth's mantle. Due to radioactive heating, the average temperature of the Martian mantle may be roughly 2700 degrees F. Unlike Earth's core, which is partially molten (melted), the core of Mars probably is solid. Surface Features: Mars has many of the kinds of surface features that are common on Earth. These include plains, canyons, volcanoes, valleys, gullies, and polar ice. But craters occur throughout the surface of Mars, while they are rare on Earth. In addition, fine-grained reddish dust covers almost all the Martian surface. Atmosphere: The atmosphere of Mars contains much less oxygen (O2) than that of Earth. In addition, clouds, haze, and fog composed of particles of water ice are common. Why would you want to visit? What you would learn: To see some really big volcanoes To see what it’s like when you travel further from the sun To find out if Martians really exist It’s basically impossible to breathe there and so you’d need to bring an oxygen tank. Instead of seeing green and blue, like we do here, you’d see red everywhere. There is a lot less gravity there and so you’d float around in the air instead of walk on the ground. http://www.myddnetwork.com/tech-money/ an-image-of-life-on-mars-or-just-our- imagination/ Solar System (quick review) Where to go next? 1. Mercury 2. Venus 3. Earth 4. Mars 5. Jupiter 6. Saturn 7. Uranus 8. Neptune

Upload: evette

Post on 22-Feb-2016

56 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

- PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Why would you want to visit?

Orbit & Rotation: Like the other planets in the solar system, Mars travels around the sun in an elliptical (oval) orbit. But the orbit of Mars is slightly more "stretched out" than the orbits of Earth and most of the other planets. Mars travels around the sun once every 687 Earth days; this is the length of the Martian year.

Mass & Density: Earth is about 10 times as massive as Mars. Mars's density is roughly 70 percent of the density of Earth. Because Mars is so much smaller and less dense than Earth the force of gravity is much less than that on Earth. For example, if someone dropped a rock, the rock would fall to the surface more slowly than the same rock would fall to Earth.

Physical Features: Scientists suspect that the average thickness of the Martian crust is about 30 miles. The mantle of Mars is probably similar in composition to Earth's mantle. Due to radioactive heating, the average temperature of the Martian mantle may be roughly 2700 degrees F. Unlike Earth's core, which is partially molten (melted), the core of Mars probably is solid.

Surface Features: Mars has many of the kinds of surface features that are common on Earth. These include plains, canyons, volcanoes, valleys, gullies, and polar ice. But craters occur throughout the surface of Mars, while they are rare on Earth. In addition, fine-grained reddish dust covers almost all the Martian surface.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere of Mars contains much less oxygen (O2) than that of Earth. In addition, clouds, haze, and fog composed of particles of water ice are common.

Why would you want to visit?

What you would learn:

To see some really big volcanoes

To see what it’s like when you travel further from the

sunTo find out if Martians really

exist

It’s basically impossible to breathe there and so you’d need

to bring an oxygen tank. Instead of seeing green and blue, like we do here, you’d see

red everywhere.There is a lot less gravity there and so you’d float around in the

air instead of walk on the ground.

http://www.myddnetwork.com/tech-money/an-image-of-life-on-mars-or-just-our-imagination/

Solar System(quick review)

Where to go next?

1. Mercury2. Venus3. Earth4. Mars

5. Jupiter6. Saturn

7. Uranus 8. Neptune

Page 2: Why would you want to visit?

By: Melissa Neal

October 5, 2010

Fun Facts About Mars

•Fourth planet from the Sun

•One of Earth’s next door neighbors

•4.6 billion yrs old

•Smaller and less dense than Earth

•Reddish dust covers most of the planet’s surface

•Has the largest volcanoes in the solar system

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earth_Mars_Comparison.jpg

http://whyfiles.org/194spa_travel/2.html

http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/11/why_look_for_life_on_mars.php

http://www.usm.maine.edu/planet/Donorvessel.html