1. Mars
The Red Planet

2. Mars - History
• Fourth planet from the Sun.
• It is named after the god of war for the color
blood red that can be seen.
• Are there Martians on
the planet?

3. Mars - History
• Canali

4. Mars - History
• Canals

5. Mars - Planet type
• Terrestrial
– Rock-like
• What does the surface
look like? Why is it like
that?

6. Mars - Distance
• ~ 142 million miles.
• 1.5 AU away from the
Sun.
• Radio signals take 4
minutes to and from the
Earth.

7. Mars - Size

8. Mars - Rotation, Revolution
• Rotation =
24 1/2 hours
• Revolution =
687 days

9. Mars - Natural Satellites
Mars has 2 natural satellites. What’s odd
about them?

10. Phobos and Deimos
• The moons appear to be made of carbon-rich
rock mixed with ice and may be captured
asteroids.

11. Phobos Rotation
http://www.solarviews.com/cap/mars/vdeimos3.htm

12. Mars - Temperatures
• High temperature =
80°F
• Low temperature =
-207°F
Average=
-67 °F

13. Mars’Atmosphere
• Very thin.
• 95% of Carbon
Dioxide
• ~ 3 % Nitrogen
• ~ 2 % Argon

14. Mars’ Horizon

15. Mars - US Explorations
• 1965 - Mariner 4
• 1976 - Viking
– Orbiter and lander
• 1997 - Pathfinder
First close-up - Mars
Viking
Pathfinder’s
Sojourner (rover)

16. Mars Orbiters
• We have several
spacecraft orbiting
Mars.
• Global Surveyor,
Odyssey, Express

17. Mars Rover

18. Spirit and Opportunity
• Road Trip at
• http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/slideshows/m
er-200608/index.cfm
• Where are they now?
http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/index.html

19. Landing on Mars

20. DVD with Rye Jr. High’s name on it.
Photo before launch.

21. Actual photo on Mars

22. Latest photo from Opportunity
09.27.06 -- NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity has arrived at the rim of
a crater approximately five times wider than a previous stadium-
sized one it studied for half a year.

23. Mars Science Laboratory
(MSL)
• Curiosity
• Curiosity: Could Mars Have Once Harbored Life?

24. Mars Features
• Olympus Mons
• Biggest
• Mountain in
• The universe.

25. Mars face?

26. Mars Polar Ice Caps

27. Polar region

28. On to Jupiter