Introduction
Mars is often called the red planet. It has a barren and hostile appearance. However, it is a planet on which scientists are most optimistic about finding life. Whilst the discover of little green men is doubtful, there is evidence to show that, billions of years ago, the atmosphere on Mars could have sustained primitive life. Some even believe that it still exists there today.
Water on Mars
The red planet does not have water on its surface now, but there is evidence to show that there were rivers and seas on Mars in the past. The Viking probes took many pictures of the planet's surface, and scientists have identified several channels that could only have been formed by running water. Astronomers believe that there was a great deal of liquid water on Mars billions years ago. Meteors and volcanic activity kept the planet warm, so the water did not freeze. Nowadays, however, Mars is too cold for water to exist in liquid form, and scientists believe that if it exists, it is as ice under the surface.
Little green men
The belief in life on Mars has been around for centuries. As far as the 19th century, an astronomer named Schiaparelli reported seeing channels on the surface of Mars. Many believed that these has been created by natural forces, but claim that primitive life may have existed on Mars billions of years ago. A Martian meteorite that landed on Earth thousands of years ago contains microscopic structures that some believe may have been formed by living organisms.
Surface of Mars
Mars has one of the most striking surfaces of any planet in the solar system. Giant volcanoes tower above the landscape. The largest of these is Olympus Mons, which is 25 km tall, 3 times larger than Mount Everest! As well as this, Mars is home to Valles Marineris, a canyon that is 180 km wide, up to 7 km deep and long enough to stretch right across the United States of America.
Some important facts
1) Mars has many channels on its surface, which scientists believe were formed by rapidly moving water.
2) In 1997, the Pathfinder spacecraft landed on Mars to explore the planet. It carried a six-wheeled rover called Sojourner to investigate rock and soil samples.
3) Primitive life, such as single cell organisms, may have existed in the watery channels o Mars billions of years ago.
4) This is a magnified image of the Martian meteorite ALH84001.
Facts and Figures
Diameter : 6,785 km
Distance from sun : 228 million km
Surface temperature : -63oC (-81oF)
Length of orbit : 687 Earth days
Length of day : 25 Earth hours
Mass : 0.107 x Earth
Density (water =1 ) : 3.94
Number of moons : 2
Number of rings : 0
Mars has one of the most striking surfaces of any planet in the solar system. Giant volcanoes tower above the landscape. The largest of these is Olympus Mons, which is 25 km tall, 3 times larger than Mount Everest! As well as this, Mars is home to Valles Marineris, a canyon that is 180 km wide, up to 7 km deep and long enough to stretch right across the United States of America.
Some important facts
1) Mars has many channels on its surface, which scientists believe were formed by rapidly moving water.
2) In 1997, the Pathfinder spacecraft landed on Mars to explore the planet. It carried a six-wheeled rover called Sojourner to investigate rock and soil samples.
3) Primitive life, such as single cell organisms, may have existed in the watery channels o Mars billions of years ago.
4) This is a magnified image of the Martian meteorite ALH84001.
Facts and Figures
Diameter : 6,785 km
Distance from sun : 228 million km
Surface temperature : -63oC (-81oF)
Length of orbit : 687 Earth days
Length of day : 25 Earth hours
Mass : 0.107 x Earth
Density (water =1 ) : 3.94
Number of moons : 2
Number of rings : 0
0 comments:
Speak up your mind
Tell us what you're thinking... !