Mars is the closest planet to our home, Earth, but also the fourth planet of the solar system and the only planet we are at the moment trying to reach. We expect to get there by 2050, or at least Elon Musk wants to achieve that feat.
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Remarkable data about Mars:
| Radius | 2,439.7 km |
| Mass | 6.4171 × 10^23 kg |
| Gravity | 3.721 m/s² |
| Distance from Sun | 227.9 million km |
| Age | 4.603 billion years |
| Orbital period | 687 days |
| Natural satellites | 2 Phobos, Deimos |
Key Features of Mars:
- Potential water life: There is past evidence of water, geological evidences such as river valleys, lake beds, and minerals that only form in the presence of water, suggests that it had liquid water on its surface billions of years ago. There is currently water presence, although it exists mainly as ice. Some studies suggest there could be liquid brines (salty water) beneath the surface, and recent findings show recurring slope lineae (RSL) that might indicate seasonal flows of salty water.
- Lack of a Global Magnetic Field: Unlike Earth, it does not have a global magnetic field, but localized magnetic fields have been detected in some regions. This lack of a magnetic field has implications for its atmosphere and radiation levels.
- Cold Temperatures: The average surface temperature is around -80 degrees Fahrenheit (-60 degrees Celsius), but it can range from -195°F (-125°C) in winter near the poles to 70°F (20°C) in summer near the equator.
- Impact Craters: it has numerous craters from asteroid and comet impacts, with some of the largest, like the Hellas Planitia, spanning about 1,400 miles (2,300 km).
Mars Position in the Solar System:
- Orbit: it orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 142 million miles (228 million kilometers), which is roughly 1.5 times farther from the Sun than Earth.
- Rotation and Tilt: it rotates on its axis once every 24 hours and 37 minutes, which is very similar to Earth’s rotation. The planet is tilted at about 25.2 degrees, which is also very similar to the 23.5 Earth’s tilt.