1. MARS.
Mars, known sometimes as the Red Planet, is the
fourth planet in the Solar System. It is part of the
so-called terrestrial planets (rocky nature, like the
Earth) and is the farthest inner planet from the
Sun is in many ways the most like Earth.
Tycho Brahe measured with great accuracy
the motion of Mars in the sky. Data on
the apparent retrograde motion ("bonds") Note
1 allowed Kepler find the elliptical nature of its
orbit and determine the laws of planetary
motion known as Kepler's laws.
2. FEATURES
polar caps.
the polar caps are composed of a very thin
layer of CO2 ice ("dry ice") and may bebelow
the southern cap of water ice. One
hundred years of observation the south polar
cap has disappeared completely twice, while
the North has not done before.
3. CLIMATOLOGY
The surface temperature depends on
latitude and shows seasonal
variations. Theaverage surface
temperature is about 218 K (-55 ° C). Diurnal
variation in temperature is very high as
befits an atmosphere so thin. The daytime
maximum inEcuador and in
summer can reach 20 ° C or more,
while nighttime lows can easily reach -80 °
C. In the polar caps, winter temperatures can
drop to -130 ° C.
4. SATELLITES.
natural satellites
See also: Satellites of Mars
Phobos and Deimos (size comparison)
Mars has two small moons, called Phobos and Deimos. Its orbit is
very close to the planet. It is believed that two captured asteroids.
Both satellites were discovered in 1877 by Asaph Hall.
Their names were placed in honor of the characters from Greek
mythology who accompanied Ares (Mars in Roman mythology).
6. OBSERVING SOLAR ECLIPSES
The spacecraft's cameras captured
the Opportunity March 10, 2004 partial
solareclipse caused by the
satellite Phobos. The satellite will cover much
of the sun because that is larger
than Deimos and orbit much closer
to Mars. The eclipse
ofDeimos captured on March 4,
2004 is comparable to a transit of a planet.
8. ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF MARS
Mars was the Roman god of war and its Greek
equivalent was called Ares. The redplanet Mars,
associated with blood, favored to
be considered since ancient times as a
symbol of the god
of war. Sometimes referred to as the Red
Planet Mars. The star Antares, near
the ecliptic in the constellation deScorpio, is
named as a rival(Ant-) of Mars, their
brightness being similar in some of their
approaches.
