Mars
| Mars | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mars in Orbiter | |
| Designation | |
| Name | Mars |
| Reference body | Sun |
| Number of satellites | 2 |
| Physical parameters* | |
| Mass | 6.419×1023 kg |
| Mean Radius | 3.39×106 m |
| Gravitational moments | J2=0.00196 |
| Siderial day | 8.864×104 s |
| Orbital period | 5.936×107 s (669.7 Mars sols) |
| Obliquity of ecliptic | 26.72° |
| Atmosphere | Yes |
| Atmosphere* | |
| Atmosphere model | 2006 Edition model |
| Surface Pressure | 610.0 Pa |
| Surface Density | 0.02 kg/m3 |
| Specific gas constant | 188.92 J/(K kg) |
| Specific heat ratio | 1.29 |
| Osculating elements (ecliptic frame)* | |
| Semi-major axis | 2.2795×1011 m |
| Eccentricity | 0.093322 |
| Inclination | 1.85° |
| Longitude of ascending node | 49.5° |
| Longitude of periapsis | 336.18° |
| Mean Longitude | 140.19° |
| Note | *Elements given are from Orbiter 2016 |
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the second smallest planet, larger than only Mercury. Its characteristic red color is due to the iron oxide on its surface. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a very thin atmosphere, its surface features are impact craters, valley, deserts, as well at polar ice caps. The days on Mars are just a bit longer than the Earth's as the rotation period and obliquity are similar, and its orbital period is roughly twice as long.
Physical characteristics
The diameter of Mars is roughly half that of the Earth, and is less dense, with a surface gravity of about 0.38 G. As a result of the Late Heavy Bombardment, more than half of the surface of Mars contains craters. The remaining surface consists of deserts, volcanoes, and two polar ice caps consisting of mostly water ice and CO2 ice.
The atmospheric pressure is about 1% that of the Earth at sea level, and consists of mostly carbon dioxide, argon, and nitrogen with just a trace of oxygen and water, along with dust.
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System and the second-smallest solid planet. Mars is a cold terrestrial planet with polar ice caps of frozen water and carbon dioxide. It has the largest volcano in the Solar System, and some very large impact craters. Mars is named after the mythological Roman god of war because it appears of red colour.
Rotation and orbit
The semimajor axis of Mars is about 228 million kilometers (143 million miles) and its orbital period is about 687 earth days or 670 Mars sols, orbital inclination is 1.85° from the ecliptic, and orbital eccentricity is about 0.093, one of the highest in the solar system.
Mars' sol (day) is a bit longer than that of the earth, about 24½ hours, it's axial tilt is about 25°, similar to the Earth.
Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, very small bodies, which may be captured asteroids. Phobos revolves around Mars in just 11 hours, where Deimos orbits in about 30 hours.
see also: Wikipedia [1]
Natural satellites
See also
- Addons for Mars
- Mars at Wikipedia
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