Mars

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This article is about the planet. For other uses, see Mars (disambiguation).

Mars

Mars imaged by the

Hubble Space Telescope in 2003.

Designations

Pronunciation

Adjectives

/mrz/

Martian

Orbital characteristics[2]

Epoch J2000

Aphelion

1.6660 AU
249.2 million km

Perihelion

1.3814 AU
206.7 million km

Semi-major axis

1.523679 AU
227,939,100 km

Eccentricity

0.09350.0001

Orbital period

1.8808 Julian years

686.971 d
668.5991 sols

Synodic period

779.96 days
2.135 Julian years

Average orbital speed

24.077 km/s

Mean anomaly

19.3564

Inclination

1.850 to ecliptic
5.65 to Sun's equator
1.67 to invariable plane[1]

Longitude of ascending node

49.562

Argument of perihelion

286.537

Satellites

Physical characteristics
Mean radius

3389.50.2 km[a][3]

Equatorial radius

3396.20.1 km[a][3]
0.533 Earths

Polar radius

3,376.20.1 km[a][3]
0.531 Earths

Flattening

0.005890.00015

Surface area

144,798,500 km2
0.284 Earths

Volume

1.63181011 km3[4]
0.151 Earths

Mass

6.41851023 kg[4]
0.107 Earths

Mean density

3.93350.0004 g/cm[4]

Surface gravity

3.711 m/s[4]
0.376 g

Moment of inertia factor

0.36620.0017[5]

Escape velocity

5.027 km/s

Sidereal rotation period

1.025957 d
24h 37m 22s[4]

Equatorial rotation velocity

868.22 km/h (241.17 m/s)

Axial tilt

25.19 to its orbital plane[6]

North poleright ascension

21h 10m 44s

317.68143

North poledeclination

52.88650

Albedo

0.170 (geometric)[7]
0.25 (Bond)[6]
Surface temp.

min

mean

Kelvin

130 K

210 K

Celsius

143 C

[9]

max
[6]

63 C

Apparent magnitude

+1.6 to 3.0[8]

Angular diameter

3.525.1[6]
Atmosphere[6][14]

308 K
35 C[10]

Surface pressure

0.636 (0.40.87) kPa

Composition by volume
95.97% carbon dioxide
1.93% argon
1.89% nitrogen
0.146% oxygen
0.0557% carbon
monoxide
210 ppm water vapor
100 ppm nitric oxide
15 ppm molecular
hydrogen[11]
2.5 ppm neon
850 ppb HDO
300 ppb krypton
130 ppb formaldehyde
80 ppb xenon
18 ppb hydrogen
peroxide[12]
10 ppb methane[13]

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System,
after Mercury. Named after the Roman god of war, it is often referred to as the "Red Planet" because
the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance.[15] Mars is a terrestrial

planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of
the Moonand the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth. The rotational period and
seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar to those of Earth, as is the tilt that produces the
seasons. Mars is the site of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano and second-highest known
mountain in the Solar System, and of Valles Marineris, one of the largest canyons in the Solar
System. The smoothBorealis basin in the northern hemisphere covers 40% of the planet and may be
a giant impact feature.[16][17] Mars has two moons,Phobos and Deimos, which are small and irregularly
shaped. These may be captured asteroids,[18][19] similar to 5261 Eureka, aMars trojan.
Until the first successful Mars flyby in 1965 by Mariner 4, many speculated about the presence of
liquid water on the planet's surface. This was based on observed periodic variations in light and dark
patches, particularly in the polar latitudes, which appeared to be seas and continents; long,
dark striations were interpreted by some as irrigation channels for liquid water. These straight line
features were later explained as optical illusions, though geological evidence gathered by unmanned
missions suggests that Mars once had large-scale water coverage on its surface at some earlier
stage of its life.[20] In 2005, radar data revealed the presence of large quantities of water ice at the
poles[21] and at mid-latitudes.[22][23] The Mars rover Spirit sampled chemical compounds containing
water molecules in March 2007. The Phoenix lander directly sampled water ice in shallow Martian
soil on July 31, 2008.[24]
Mars is host to seven functioning spacecraft: five in orbit2001 Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter,MAVEN and Mars Orbiter Missionand two on the surfaceMars
Exploration Rover Opportunity and the Mars Science LaboratoryCuriosity. Observations by the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed possible flowing water during the warmest months on Mars.
[25]
In 2013, NASA's Curiosity rover discovered that Mars's soil contains between 1.5% and 3% water
by mass (albeit attached to other compounds and thus not freely accessible). [26]
There are ongoing investigations assessing the past habitability potential of Mars, as well as the
possibility of extant life. In situinvestigations have been performed by
the Viking landers, Spirit and Opportunity rovers, Phoenix lander, and Curiosity rover. Future
astrobiology missions are planned, including the Mars 2020 and ExoMars rovers.[27][28][29][30]
Mars can easily be seen from Earth with the naked eye, as can its reddish coloring. Its apparent
magnitude reaches 2.91,[6] which is surpassed only by Jupiter, Venus, the Moon, and the Sun.
Optical ground-based telescopes are typically limited to resolving features about 300 kilometers
(190 mi) across when Earth and Mars are closest because of Earth's atmosphere. [31]
Contents
[hide]

1 Physical characteristics
o

1.1 Internal structure

1.2 Surface geology

1.3 Soil

1.4 Hydrology

1.4.1 Polar caps

1.5 Geography and naming of surface features

1.5.1 Map of quadrangles

1.5.2 Impact topography

1.5.3 Volcanoes

1.5.4 Tectonic sites

1.5.5 Holes
1.6 Atmosphere

1.6.1 Aurora

1.7 Climate

2 Orbit and rotation

3 Search for life

4 Habitability

5 Exploration
5.1 Future

6 Astronomy on Mars

7 Viewing
7.1 Closest approaches

7.1.1 Relative

7.1.2 Absolute, around the present time

8 Historical observations

8.1 Ancient and medieval observations

8.2 Martian "canals"

8.3 Spacecraft visitation

9 In culture
o

9.1 Intelligent "Martians"

10 Moons

11 Gallery

12 See also

13 Notes

14 References

15 External links

Physical characteristics