Moons of mars

Phobos

Phobos is a small, irregularly shaped object with a mean radius of 11 km (7 mi) and is seven times as massive as the outer moon,
Deimos. Phobos is named after the Greek god Phobos, a son of Ares (Mars) and Aphrodite (Venus)

hobos has dimensions of 27 km 22 km 18 km, and retains too little mass to be rounded under its own gravity. Phobos does not
have an atmosphere due to its low mass and low gravity. It is one of the least reflective bodies in the Solar System, with an albedo
of about 0.071. Spectroscopically it appears to be similar to the D-type asteroids, and is apparently of composition similar
to carbonaceous chondritematerial. Phobos's density is too low to be solid rock, and it is known to have significant porosity

Deimos

It is named after Deimos, a figure representing dread in Greek mythology. The names, at first spelled Phobus and Deimus, were
suggested by Henry Madan (18381901), Science Master of Eton, from Book XV of the Iliad, where Ares (the Roman god Mars)
summons Dread (Deimos) and Fear (Phobos).

Deimos, like Mars's other moon, Phobos, has spectra, albedos, and densities similar to those of a C- or D-type asteroid. Like most
bodies of its size, Deimos is highly non-spherical with triaxial dimensions of 15 12.2 11 km, making it 0.56 times the size of
Phobos. Deimos is composed of rock rich in carbonaceous material, much like C-type asteroids and carbonaceous
chondrite meteorites. It is cratered, but the surface is noticeably smoother than that of Phobos, caused by the partial filling of craters
with regolith. The regolith is highly porous and has a radar-estimated density of only 1.471 g/cm 3.
Escape velocity from Deimos is 5.6 m/s. The apparent magnitude of Deimos is 12.45.
Mars
Habitability

Chemical, physical, geological, and geographic attributes shape the environments on Mars. Isolated
measurements of these factors may be insufficient to deem an environment habitable, but the sum of
measurements can help predict locations with greater or lesser habitability potential. The two current ecological
approaches for predicting the potential habitability of the Martian surface use 19 or 20 environmental factors,
with emphasis on water availability, temperature, presence of nutrients, an energy source, and protection from
Solar ultraviolet and galactic cosmic radiation.
Scientists do not know the minimum number of parameters for determination of habitability potential, but they
are certain it is greater than one or two of the factors in the table below. Similarly, for each group of
parameters, the habitability threshold for each is to be determined. Laboratory simulations show that whenever
multiple lethal factors are combined, the survival rates plummet quickly.] There are no full-Mars simulations
published yet that include all of the biocidal factors combined.

Life

The possibility of life on Mars is a subject of significant interest to astrobiology due to the planet's proximity and
similarities to Earth. To date no proof has been found of past or present life on Mars. However, cumulative
evidence is now building that the ancient surface environment of Mars had liquid water and may have
been habitable for microorganisms. The existence of habitable conditions does not necessarily indicate the
presence of life.

Mars is often called the 'Red Planet' because it appears in the sky as an orange-red star. The
colour caused the ancient Greeks and Romans to name it after their god of war. Today,
thanks to visiting spacecraft, we know that the planet's appearance is due to rust in the
Martian rocks

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.

Viewing

Mars Opposition
The distance to Mars varies from about 56 million kilometers (about 35 million miles) to 400
million kilometers (about 249 million miles). Why the difference? And why so close now?
 Solar Conjunction
When the sun comes between Earth and Mars, communications with
Mars spacecraft diminish drastically. Find out how the mission teams
cope!

Mars Retrograde
When Mars is close, it appears to move backwards from night to night!
Find out why.

Find out where and when Mars will be in your neighborhood.

Mars Close Approaches

Close is a relative term. At its closest, Mars is still tens of millions of
miles away from Earth. Still, the decreased distance during "closest
approach" allows for fuel-conserving flights to Mars every 26 months and
a good view of Mars once or twice every 15 to 17 years for Earth-bound
sky watchers.

Exploration
movements of the planets will put Mars almost directly behind the sun, from Earth's perspective,
causing curtailed communications between Earth and Mars.

As seen from Earth, Mars periodically passes near the sun about every 26 months, an arrangement
called "Mars solar conjunction." During most solar conjunctions, including this year's, Mars does not
go directly behind the sun.

The exploration of Mars is the study of Mars by spacecraft. Probes sent from Earth, beginning in
the late 20th century, have yielded a dramatic increase in knowledge about the Martian system,
focused primarily on understanding its geology and habitability potential.[1]