Mars

[Robert TG]

This is a general information thread on the Planet Mars.

Please feel free to add some facts or questions about this Planet.


Mars is an average distance of 227 Million Kilometers from the Sun

Mars has two moons.

Mars is a rocky planet.

Mars has a thin atmosphere.

Mars has a diameter of 6,794 km


There are a lot more facts about Mars...please add a few. :yesplease:

[Radar]

The average recorded tempterature on Mars is -63c. Maximum is 20 degrees c. Minimum is -220.

Way to cold for me. I'll stay on Earth for now.

Though Astronomy from Mars, with such a thin atmosphere would be great. Because of the lack of Atmosphere, it is feasible that visual astronomy would be quite colourful. Colours we can't see here, would be vivid from Mars (maybe).

[Astro Dave]

One of the major concerns about humans roaming around on Mars are the meteorites hitting the surface and not burning up. The 'atmosphere' is mainly carbon dioxide and way too thin to alleviate the condition.

Imagine taking a stroll and all of a sudden a piece of rock, moving at say 10-15 Km/sec, decides to see what it's like inside your stomach.... not pleasant.

Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos, are really captured asteroids! By the way, Deimos is moving away from Mars and Phobos is heading for a collision sometime in the distant future.

Another piece of Martian trivia: if you and I were standing on the surface of Mars, about 20 metres or so apart, we'd need a radio to talk to each other. Does anyone know why?

[Robert TG]

...Another piece of Martian trivia: if you and I were standing on the surface of Mars, about 20 metres or so apart, we'd need a radio to talk to each other. Does anyone know why?

Thanks Dave, I love trivia and I never thought about how poorly sound would travel on Mars due to the air being so thin. Sound waves need a medium to travel so I guess that Mars is a very quiet place.

[Astro Dave]

Robert. Exactly right. Thin air no talkies. Well done.

Now... Did you know Mars has 'lost' its magnetic field? That is if it ever had one.

The solar wind would then have driven any oxygen based atmosphere off the planet. Maybe that's why it is the way it is today.