Appearance of Mars. Description of the red planet

Mars is a planet in the solar system, one of the first discovered by humanity. To date, of all eight planets, it is Mars that has been studied in the most detail. But this does not stop researchers, but, on the contrary, arouses increasing interest in the “Red Planet” and its study.

Why is it called that?

The planet got its name from Mars, one of the most revered gods of the ancient Roman pantheon, which, in turn, is a reference to the Greek god Ares, the patron of cruel and treacherous war. This name was not chosen by chance - the reddish surface of Mars resembles the color of blood and involuntarily makes us remember the ruler of bloody battles.

The names of the planet's two satellites also carry deep meaning. The words “Phobos” and “Deimos” translated from Greek mean “Fear” and “Horror”; this was the name of the two sons of Ares, who, according to legend, always accompanied their father in battle.

Brief history of the study

For the first time, humanity began to observe Mars not through telescopes. Even the ancient Egyptians noticed the Red Planet as a wandering object, which is confirmed by ancient written sources. The Egyptians were the first to calculate the trajectory of Mars relative to the earth.

Then the astronomers of the Babylonian kingdom took over the baton. Scientists from Babylon were able to more accurately determine the location of the planet and measure the time of its movement. Next were the Greeks. They managed to create an accurate geocentric model and, with its help, understand the movement of the planets. Then scientists in Persia and India were able to estimate the size of the Red Planet and its distance to Earth.

European astronomers made a huge breakthrough. Johannes Kepler, using Nikolai Kaepernick's model as a basis, was able to calculate the elliptical orbit of Mars, and Christiaan Huygens created the first map of its surface and noticed an ice cap at the planet's north pole.

The advent of telescopes marked a heyday in the study of Mars. Slipher, Barnard, Vaucouleurs and many other astronomers became the greatest explorers of Mars before man entered space.

Human space exploration has made it possible to study the Red Planet more accurately and in detail. In the middle of the 20th century, with the help of interplanetary stations, precise images of the surface were taken, and ultra-powerful infrared and ultraviolet telescopes made it possible to measure the composition of the planet’s atmosphere and the speed of winds on it.

Subsequently, more and more accurate studies of Mars followed from the USSR, the USA, and then other countries.

The study of Mars continues to this day, and the data obtained only fuels interest in its study.

Characteristics of Mars

• Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, adjacent to the Earth on one side, and Jupiter on the other. In size it is one of the smallest and surpasses only Mercury.
• The length of Mars' equator is slightly more than half the length of Earth's equator, and its surface area is approximately equal to the land area of ​​Earth.
• There is a change of seasons on the planet, but their duration varies greatly. For example, summer in the northern part is long and cold, and in the southern part it is short and warmer.
• The length of a day is quite comparable to that on earth - 24 hours and 39 minutes, that is, a little more.

Surface of the planet

No wonder the second name of Mars is “Red Planet”. Indeed, from a distance its surface looks reddish. This shade of the planet's surface is given by the red dust contained in the atmosphere.

However, up close, the planet sharply changes its color and no longer looks red, but yellow-brown. Sometimes other shades can be mixed with these colors: golden, reddish, greenish. The source of these shades are colored minerals that are also present on Mars.

The main part of the planet’s surface is made up of “continents” - clearly visible light areas, and a very small part - “seas”, dark and poorly visible areas. Most of the “seas” are located in the southern hemisphere of Mars. The nature of the “seas” is still subject to controversy among researchers. But now scientists are most inclined to the following explanation: dark areas are simply irregularities on the surface of the planet, namely craters, mountains and hills.

The following fact is extremely interesting: the surface of the two hemispheres of Mars is very different.

The Northern Hemisphere consists largely of smooth plains, its surface is below average.

The southern hemisphere is mostly cratered, with a surface above average.

Structure and geological data

The study of the magnetic field of Mars and the volcanoes that are located on its surface led scientists to an interesting conclusion: once on Mars, as on Earth, there was a movement of lithospheric plates, which, however, is not observed now.

Modern researchers tend to think that the internal structure of Mars consists of the following components:

1. Crust (approximate thickness - 50 kilometers)
2. Silicate mantle
3. Core (approximate radius - 1500 kilometers)
4. The planet's core is partially liquid and contains twice as much light elements as the Earth's core.

All about the atmosphere

The atmosphere of Mars is very thin and consists mainly of carbon dioxide. In addition, it contains: nitrogen, water vapor, oxygen, argon, carbon monoxide, xenon and many other elements.

The thickness of the atmosphere is approximately 110 kilometers. Atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is more than 150 times less than Earth's (6.1 millibars).

The temperature on the planet fluctuates over a very wide range: from -153 to +20 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperatures occur at the poles in winter, the highest at the equator during midday. Average temperatures are around -50 degrees Celsius.

Interestingly, a thorough analysis of the Martian meteorite “ALH 84001” led scientists to believe that a very long time ago (billions of years ago) the atmosphere of Mars was denser and wetter, and the climate was warmer.

Is there life on Mars?

There is still no clear answer to this question. There is now scientific evidence that supports both theories.

• The presence of sufficient nutrients in the planet's soil.
• There is a large amount of methane on Mars, the source of which is unknown.
• Presence of water vapor in the soil layer.

• Instant evaporation of water from the surface of the planet.
• Vulnerable to Solar Wind bombardment.
• The water on Mars is too salty and alkaline and unsuitable for life.
• Intense ultraviolet radiation.

Thus, scientists cannot give an accurate answer, since the amount of necessary data is too small.

• The mass of Mars is 10 times less than the mass of Earth.
• The first person to see Mars through a telescope was Galileo Galilei.
• Mars was originally the Roman god of the harvest, not war.
• The Babylonians called the planet "Nergal" (in honor of their deity of evil).
• In ancient India, Mars was called "Mangala" (the Indian god of war).
• In culture, Mars has become the most popular planet in the solar system.
• The daily dose of radiation on Mars is equal to the annual dose on Earth.

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is named after the famous god of war from Roman mythology. It is quite easy to find Mars in the night sky, because it glows with an unblinking red light. That is why very often description of the planet Mars includes the phrase "red planet". Mars also has two small and irregularly shaped natural satellites: Deimos and Phobos. It is believed that they can be intercepted due to the planet's gravity.

What do Mars and Earth have in common?

Mars is a terrestrial planet, as it has a thin atmosphere and a surface that resembles both the craters of the Moon and the deserts, valleys, volcanoes and polar ice caps of the Earth. The tallest volcano in the solar system has been discovered on the planet Mars. They are called Olympus and reach a height of 27 km. Mars shares not only similar geographic features with Earth, but also similar seasonal cycles and rotation periods. That is why on this planet there is the highest probability of finding water and life.

The area of ​​Mars is almost the same as the total area of ​​all Earth's continents, but the mass of the planet is 10 times less than Earth. The length of a day is 24 hours, 39 minutes, 35,244 seconds. There are 687 days in a Martian year. It has been established that the change of seasons can be observed on Mars.

Mars has an extremely rare atmosphere. The pressure on the surface of the planet is 750 Pa - this is 133 times less than at sea level on Earth. The atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide (95%), nitrogen (3%), argon (1.6%), methane and traces of water and oxygen. It is also quite typical for Mars that the circulation of water vapor occurs from one pole to the other (this depends on the season).

According to some data, it was established that the surface of the planet consists mainly of one substance - basalt. In some places, the thickness of the Martian crust reaches 125 km, but on average does not exceed 50 km. The Earth's crust is 40 km thick.

The northern and southern hemispheres of Mars are significantly different. The northern hemisphere of the planet is dominated by plains that were once formed by lava from erupting volcanoes, while in the southern hemisphere, as can be seen from the images, there are high plateaus covered with asteroid craters. The planet's polar caps contain ice and carbon dioxide. Mars also has the largest canyon in the entire solar system called Valles Marineris, which is 4000 km long and 7 km deep.

Detailed characteristics in the description of the planet Mars

The diameter of the planet is 6785 km, mass is 0.64 x 10 ^ 24 kg. Distance from the sun: minimum – 205 million km, maximum – 249 million km. The rotation period of Mars around its axis is 24.6 hours. Temperature from -129° C to 0° C. Surface temperature of the planet: average – 218 K. Two satellites: Phobos and Deimos.

In astronomy planet Mars– the fourth from the Sun, next after the earth.

Description of the planet Mars:

The planet Mars has a striking red color, and at its best viewing position, when it is opposite the sun, it is twice as bright as Sirius, the brightest star.

The planet Mars has a diameter of 4,200 miles (6,800 km), slightly more than half the diameter of Earth, and its mass is only 11% of Earth's mass.

Surface of the planet Mars has a very thin atmosphere consisting mainly of carbon dioxide, with some nitrogen and argon particles.

Mars has a very high temperature difference between day and night, this is because Mars has a very thin atmosphere, ranging from about 80 °F (27 °C) at noon to about -100 °F (-73 °C) at midnight.

The surface of the planet Mars and its features:

The network of linear markings was first studied in detail (1877) by G. V. Schiaparelli and was referred to him as Canali, an Italian word meaning “channels” or “grooves.” Percival Lowell, a leading expert on Mars, created a long-running controversy by mistaking these “channels” for the work of intelligent beings. However, even in the best viewing conditions, it was poorly visible.

Much of the surface area of ​​the planet Mars appears as a vast desert, a dull red or orange color. This color may be due to various oxides that make up the surface, especially iron. About one-quarter to one-third of the surface consists of dark areas, the nature of which has not yet been determined.

Exploration of the planet Mars.

Photos sent by the Mariner 4 space probe show that the surface of the planet Mars has many large craters that are similar to those on the moon. In 1971, the Mariner 9 space probe discovered a huge canyon, Valles Marineris. Which is very similar to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. This Canyon stretches for 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and in some places is 125 miles (200 km) in diameter and 2 miles (3 km) deep. The planet Mars also has many huge volcanoes, including Olympus Mons (370 miles (600 km) in diameter and 16 miles (26 km) high), the largest in the Solar System. In 1976, the Viking spacecraft landed on Mars and explored the desert. They recorded that the desert has a reddish surface and a reddish atmosphere.

These experiments analyzed soil samples for the presence of microorganisms or other life forms, but unfortunately found none. In 1997, Mars explorers landed on the planet Mars and sent a small rover, Sojoiner, to take soil samples and take images.

The resulting data included more than 16,000 images from the lander and 550 images from the rover, as well as more than 15 chemical analyzes of rocks and extensive data on wind and other weather factors. Mars Global Surveyor, which also reached Mars in 1997, returned with systematically mapping the surface. The European Space Agency's Mars Express sent a space probe into orbit around Mars in late 2003 and also sent a Beagle 2 lander to the surface, but no contact was made with the lander. The American Mars rovers Spirit and Possibility landed successfully in early 2004.

Analysis of satellite data shows that the planet Mars appears to have few active tectonic plates at present, with no evidence of recent surface movement. In the absence of plate movement, hot spots under the crust are in a stationary position relative to the surface, which, along with low surface gravity, can cause the emergence of giant volcanoes. However, there is no evidence of current volcanic activity.

There is evidence of erosion caused by floods and small river systems. The ability to identify stone, cobble and pebbles in some rocks suggests that they were formed in warm running water that was here 2-4 billion years ago, once the water was stable, perhaps there were even large lakes or oceans. All-terrain vehicles have identified minerals that are created only in the presence of water.

There is also evidence of a flood that occurred less than a few million years ago, most likely resulting from the release of water from aquifers deep underground. Data obtained in 2002 by the Mars Odyssey space probe suggests that there is water in sand dunes in the northern hemisphere.

Seasonal changes on the planet Mars.

Because its rotation axis is tilted by about 25°, Mars experiences several seasons similar to Earth. One of the most obvious seasonal changes is the growth or contraction of the white areas near the poles known as the polar ice caps. These polar ice caps are made up of water ice and dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide). In summer, the polar cap on Mars in this hemisphere shrinks and darkens; in winter, the polar cap grows and dark areas become brighter.

Astronomical characteristics and description of the planet Mars:

The average distance from the Sun to Mars is about 141,000,000 miles (228 million km), and its orbital period is about 687 days, almost twice that of Earth. At the time when the Sun, Earth and Mars are aligned, the planet Mars will be at its closest point to the Sun, this happens every 15 to 17 years. When the planet Mars is at its greatest distance from the Sun it is about 63 million miles (101 million km) from Earth. It rotates around its axis with a period of about 24 hours 37 minutes, almost like 1 Earth day.
Satellites of the planet Mars.

The planet Mars has two natural satellites, which were discovered by Asaph Hall in 1877. The innermost one, Phobos, is about 7 miles (11 km) in diameter and orbits the planet with a period much shorter than that of Mars (7 hours 39 minutes). The outer moon, Deimos, is about 4 miles (6 km) in diameter.

The orbit of Mars is elongated, so the distance to the Sun changes by 21 million km throughout the year. The distance to Earth is also not constant. During the Great Oppositions of the Planets, which occur once every 15-17 years, when the Sun, Earth and Mars line up, Mars approaches the Earth at a maximum of 50-60 million km. The last Great Confrontation took place in 2003. The maximum distance of Mars from the Earth reaches 400 million km.

A year on Mars is almost twice as long as on Earth - 687 Earth days. The axis is inclined to the orbit - 65 °, which leads to the change of seasons. The period of rotation around its axis is 24.62 hours, i.e., only 41 minutes longer than the period of rotation of the Earth. The inclination of the equator to the orbit is almost like that of the Earth. This means that the change of day and night and the change of seasons on Mars proceeds almost the same as on Earth.

According to calculations, the core of Mars has a mass of up to 9% of the mass of the planet. It consists of iron and its alloys and is in a liquid state. Mars has a thick crust 100 km thick. Between them is a silicate mantle enriched in iron. The red color of Mars is precisely explained by the fact that its soil is half composed of iron oxides. The planet seemed to have “rusted.”

The sky above Mars is dark purple, and bright stars are visible even during the day in calm, calm weather. The atmosphere has the following composition (Fig. 46): carbon dioxide - 95%, nitrogen - 2.5%, atomic hydrogen, argon - 1.6%, the rest is water vapor, oxygen. In winter, carbon dioxide freezes, turning into dry ice. There are rare clouds in the atmosphere; there is fog over the lowlands and at the bottom of craters during the cold season.

Rice. 46. ​​Composition of the atmosphere of Mars

The average atmospheric pressure at surface level is about 6.1 mbar. This is 15,000 times less than , and 160 times less than the surface of the Earth. In the deepest depressions the pressure reaches 12 mbar. The atmosphere of Mars is very thin. Mars is a cold planet. The lowest recorded temperature on Mars is -139°C. The planet is characterized by sharp temperature changes. The temperature amplitude can be 75-60 °C. Mars has climate zones similar to those on Earth. In the equatorial zone, at noon the temperature rises to +20-25 °C, and at night drops to -40 °C. In the temperate zone, the temperature in the morning is 50-80 °C.

It is believed that several billion years ago Mars had an atmosphere with a density of 1-3 bar. At this pressure, water should be in a liquid state, and carbon dioxide should evaporate, and a greenhouse effect could arise (as on Venus). However, Mars gradually lost its atmosphere due to its low mass. The greenhouse effect decreased, permafrost and polar ice caps appeared, which are still observed today.

The tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is located on Mars. Its height is 27,400 m, and the diameter of the base of the volcano reaches 600 km. This is an extinct volcano that most likely erupted lava about 1.5 billion years ago.

General characteristics of the planet Mars

Currently, not a single active volcano has been found on Mars. There are other giant volcanoes near Olympus: Mount Askrian, Mount Pavolina and Mount Arsia, whose height exceeds 20 km. The lava that flowed out of them, before solidifying, spread in all directions, so the volcanoes are shaped more like cakes than cones. There are also sand dunes, giant canyons and faults, as well as meteorite craters on Mars. The most ambitious canyon system is the Valles Marineris, 4 thousand km long. In the past, rivers may have flowed on Mars, which left the channels observed today.

In 1965, the American Mariner 4 probe transmitted the first images of Mars. Based on these, as well as photographs from Mariner 9, the Soviet probes Mars 4 and Mars 5, and the American Viking 1 and Viking 2, which operated in 1974, the first map of Mars. And in 1997, an American spacecraft delivered a robot to Mars - a six-wheeled cart 30 cm long and weighing 11 kg. The robot was on Mars from July 4 to September 27, 1997, studying this planet. Programs about his movements were broadcast on television and the Internet.

Mars has two satellites - Deimos and Phobos.

The assumption about the existence of two satellites on Mars was made in 1610 by a German mathematician, astronomer, physicist and astrologer Johannes Kepler (1571 — 1630), who discovered the laws of planetary motion.

However, the satellites of Mars were discovered only in 1877 by an American astrologer Asaph Hall (1829-1907).

Mars– the fourth planet of the solar system: map of Mars, interesting facts, satellites, size, mass, distance from the Sun, name, orbit, research with photos.

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the most similar to Earth in the solar system. We also know our neighbor by its second name – “Red Planet”. It received its name in honor of the Roman god of war. The reason is its red color, created by iron oxide. Every few years, the planet is closest to us and can be found in the night sky.

Its periodic appearance has led to the planet being featured in many myths and legends. And the external threatening appearance became the cause of fear of the planet. Let's find out more interesting facts about Mars.

Interesting facts about the planet Mars

Mars and Earth are similar in surface massiveness

• The Red Planet covers only 15% of the Earth's volume, but 2/3 of our planet is covered in water. Martian gravity is 37% of Earth's, which means your jump will be three times higher.

Has the highest mountain in the system

• Mount Olympus (the highest in the solar system) stretches 21 km and covers 600 km in diameter. It took billions of years to form, but lava flows hint that the volcano may still be active.

Only 18 missions were successful

• There have been approximately 40 space missions to Mars, including flybys, orbital probes, and rover landings. Among the latter were Curiosity (2012), MAVEN (2014) and the Indian Mangalyaan (2014). Also arriving in 2016 were ExoMars and InSight.

Largest dust storms

• These weather disasters can go on for months and cover the entire planet. The seasons become extreme because the elliptical orbital path is extremely elongated. At the nearest point in the southern hemisphere, a short but hot summer begins, and the northern one plunges into winter. Then they change places.

Martian debris on Earth

• Researchers were able to find small traces of the Martian atmosphere in the meteorites that arrived to us. They floated in space for millions of years before reaching us. This helped to conduct a preliminary study of the planet before the launch of the devices.

The name comes from the god of war in Rome

• In Ancient Greece they used the name Ares, who was responsible for all military actions. The Romans copied almost everything from the Greeks, so they used Mars as their analogue. This trend was inspired by the bloody color of the object. For example, in China the Red Planet was called a “fiery star.” Formed due to iron oxide.

There are hints of liquid water

• Scientists are convinced that for a long time the planet Mars had water in the form of ice deposits. The first signs are dark stripes or spots on the crater walls and rocks. Given the Martian atmosphere, the liquid must be salty so as not to freeze and evaporate.

We are waiting for the ring to appear

• In the next 20-40 million years, Phobos will come dangerously close and be torn apart by planetary gravity. Its fragments will form a ring around Mars that can last up to hundreds of millions of years.

Size, mass and orbit of the planet Mars

The equatorial radius of the planet Mars is 3396 km, and the polar radius is 3376 km (0.53 Earth radius). Before us is literally half the size of the Earth, but the mass is 6.4185 x 10 23 kg (0.151 of the Earth’s). The planet resembles ours in its axial inclination – 25.19°, which means that seasonality can also be noted on it.

The maximum distance from Mars to the Sun (aphelion) is 249.2 million km, and the proximity (perihelion) is 206.7 million km. This leads to the fact that the planet spends 1.88 years on its orbital passage.

Composition and surface of the planet Mars

With a density of 3.93 g/cm3, Mars is inferior to Earth and has only 15% of our volume. We have already mentioned that the red color is due to the presence of iron oxide (rust). But due to the presence of other minerals, it comes in brown, gold, green, etc. Study the structure of Mars in the bottom picture.

Mars is a terrestrial planet, which means it has a high level of minerals containing oxygen, silicon and metals. The soil is slightly alkaline and contains magnesium, potassium, sodium and chlorine.

In such conditions, the surface cannot boast of water. But a thin layer of the Martian atmosphere allowed ice to remain in the polar regions. And you can see that these hats cover a decent territory. There is also a hypothesis about the presence of underground water at mid-latitudes.

The structure of Mars contains a dense metallic core with a silicate mantle. It is represented by iron sulfide and is twice as rich in light elements as the earth's. The crust extends for 50-125 km.

The core covers 1700-1850 km and is represented by iron, nickel and 16-17% sulfur. Small size and mass mean that gravity reaches only 37.6% of Earth's. An object on the surface will fall with an acceleration of 3.711 m/s 2 .

It is worth noting that the Martian landscape is desert-like. The surface is dusty and dry. There are mountain ranges, plains and the largest sand dunes in the system. Mars also boasts the largest mountain, Olympus, and the deepest abyss, Valles Marineris.

In the photographs you can see many crater formations that have been preserved due to the slowness of erosion. Hellas Planitia is the largest crater on the planet, covering a width of 2300 km and a depth of 9 km.

The planet can boast of ravines and canals through which water could previously flow. Some stretch 2000 km long and 100 km wide.

Moons of Mars

Two of its moons revolve near Mars: Phobos and Deimos. In 1877, they were discovered by Asaph Hall, who named them after characters from Greek mythology. These are the sons of the god of war Ares: Phobos - fear, and Deimos - horror. Martian satellites are shown in the photo.

The diameter of Phobos is 22 km, and the distance is 9234.42 – 9517.58 km. It takes 7 hours for an orbital passage, and this time is gradually decreasing. Researchers believe that in 10-50 million years the satellite will crash into Mars or will be destroyed by the planet’s gravity and form a ring structure.

Deimos has a diameter of 12 km and rotates at a distance of 23455.5 – 23470.9 km. The orbital route takes 1.26 days. Mars may also have additional moons with a width of 50-100 m, and a dust ring can form between two large ones.

It is believed that previously the satellites of Mars were ordinary asteroids that succumbed to planetary gravity. But they exhibit circular orbits, which is unusual for captured bodies. They could also have formed from material torn from the planet at the beginning of creation. But then their composition should have resembled that of a planet. A strong impact could also occur, repeating the scenario with our Moon.

Atmosphere and temperature of the planet Mars

The Red Planet has a thin atmospheric layer, which is represented by carbon dioxide (96%), argon (1.93%), nitrogen (1.89%) and admixtures of oxygen and water. It contains a lot of dust, the size of which reaches 1.5 micrometers. Pressure – 0.4-0.87 kPa.

The long distance from the Sun to the planet and the thin atmosphere mean that Mars has a low temperature. It fluctuates between -46°C to -143°C in winter and can warm up to 35°C in summer at the poles and at midday at the equatorial line.

Mars is characterized by the activity of dust storms that can simulate mini-tornadoes. They form due to solar heating, where warmer air currents rise and form storms that extend for thousands of kilometers.

When analyzed, traces of methane with a concentration of 30 parts per million were also found in the atmosphere. This means that he was released from specific territories.

Research shows that the planet is capable of creating up to 270 tons of methane per year. It reaches the atmospheric layer and persists for 0.6-4 years until complete destruction. Even a small presence indicates that a gas source is hidden on the planet. The bottom figure indicates the concentration of methane on Mars.

Speculations included hints at volcanic activity, comet impacts, or the presence of microorganisms beneath the surface. Methane can also be created in a non-biological process - serpentinization. It contains water, carbon dioxide and the mineral olivine.

In 2012, we carried out several calculations on methane using the Curiosity rover. If the first analysis showed a certain amount of methane in the atmosphere, then the second showed 0. But in 2014, the rover encountered a 10-fold spike, which indicates a localized release.

The satellites also detected the presence of ammonia, but its decomposition period is much shorter. Possible source: volcanic activity.

Dissipation of planetary atmospheres

Astrophysicist Valery Shematovich on the evolution of planetary atmospheres, exoplanet systems and the loss of the atmosphere of Mars:

History of the study of the planet Mars

Earthlings have been watching their red neighbor for a long time, because the planet Mars can be found without the use of instruments. The first records were made in Ancient Egypt in 1534 BC. e. They were already familiar with the retrograde effect. True, for them, Mars was a bizarre star, whose movement was different from the rest.

Even before the advent of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (539 BC), regular records of planetary positions were made. People noted changes in movement, brightness levels, and even tried to predict where they would go.

In the 4th century BC. Aristotle noticed that Mars hid behind the earth's satellite during the period of occlusion, which indicated that the planet was located further than the Moon.

Ptolemy decided to create a model of the entire Universe in order to understand planetary motion. He suggested that there are spheres inside the planets that guarantee retrograde. It is known that the ancient Chinese also knew about the planet back in the 4th century BC. e. The diameter was estimated by Indian researchers in the 5th century BC. e.

Ptolemy's model (geocentric system) created many problems, but it remained dominant until the 16th century, when Copernicus came with his scheme where the Sun was located at the center (heliocentric system). His ideas were reinforced by Galileo Galilei's observations with his new telescope. All this helped to calculate the daily parallax of Mars and the distance to it.

In 1672, the first measurements were made by Giovanni Cassini, but his equipment was weak. In the 17th century, parallax was used by Tycho Brahe, after which it was corrected by Johannes Kepler. The first map of Mars was presented by Christiaan Huygens.

In the 19th century, it was possible to increase the resolution of instruments and examine the features of the Martian surface. Thanks to this, Giovanni Schiaparelli created the first detailed map of the Red Planet in 1877. It also displayed channels - long straight lines. Later they realized that this was just an optical illusion.

The map inspired Percival Lowell to create an observatory with two powerful telescopes (30 and 45 cm). He wrote many articles and books on the subject of Mars. The canals and seasonal changes (shrinking polar ice caps) brought to mind thoughts of Martians. And even in the 1960s. continued to write research on this topic.

Exploration of the planet Mars

More advanced exploration of Mars began with the exploration of space and the launch of vehicles to other solar planets in the system. Space probes began to be sent to the planet at the end of the 20th century. It was with their help that we were able to get acquainted with an alien world and expand our understanding of the planets. And although we were unable to find Martians, life could have existed there before.

Active study of the planet began in the 1960s. The USSR sent 9 unmanned probes that never made it to Mars. In 1964, NASA launched Mariner 3 and 4. The first failed, but the second arrived at the planet 7 months later.

Mariner 4 was able to obtain the first large-scale photographs of an alien world and transmitted information about atmospheric pressure, the absence of a magnetic field and a radiation belt. In 1969, Mariners 6 and 7 arrived at the planet.

In 1970, a new race began between the USA and the USSR: who would be the first to install a satellite in Martian orbit. The USSR used three spacecraft: Cosmos-419, Mars-2 and Mars-3. The first one failed during launch. The other two were launched in 1971, and they took 7 months to arrive. Mars 2 crashed, but Mars 3 landed softly and became the first to succeed. But the transmission lasted only 14.5 seconds.

In 1971, the United States sent Mariner 8 and 9. The first fell into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but the second successfully gained a foothold in Martian orbit. Together with Mars 2 and 3, they found themselves in a period of Martian storm. When it ended, Mariner 9 took several images hinting at liquid water that may have been observed in the past.

In 1973, four more devices were sent from the USSR, where all, except Mars-7, delivered useful information. The biggest benefit was from Mars-5, which sent 60 images. The US Viking mission began in 1975. These were two orbitals and two landers. They had to track biosignals and study seismic, meteorological and magnetic characteristics.

The Viking survey showed that there was once water on Mars, because large-scale floods could carve deep valleys and erode depressions in the rock. Mars remained a mystery until the 1990s, when Mars Pathfinder launched with a spacecraft and probe. The mission landed in 1987 and tested a huge amount of technology.

In 1999, Mars Global Surveyor arrived, tracking Mars in a near-polar orbit. He studied the surface for almost two years. We managed to capture ravines and garbage flows. The sensors showed that the magnetic field is not created in the core, but is partially present in areas of the cortex. It was also possible to create the first 3D views of the polar cap. We lost contact in 2006.

Mars Odysseus arrived in 2001. He had to use spectrometers to detect evidence of life. In 2002, huge hydrogen reserves were discovered. In 2003, the Mars Express arrived with a probe. Beagle 2 entered the atmosphere and confirmed the presence of water and carbon dioxide ice at the south pole.

In 2003, the famous rovers Spirit and Opportunity landed, which studied rocks and soil. MRO reached orbit in 2006. Its instruments are configured to search for water, ice and minerals at/below the surface.

MRO studies Martian weather and surface characteristics daily to find the best landing sites. The Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater in 2012. His instruments are important because they reveal the planet's past. In 2014, MAVEN began studying the atmosphere. In 2014, Mangalyan arrived from the Indian ISRO

In 2016, active study of the internal composition and early geological evolution began. In 2018, Roscosmos plans to send its device, and in 2020 the United Arab Emirates will join.

Government and private space agencies are serious about crewed missions in the future. By 2030, NASA expects to send the first Martian astronauts.

In 2010, Barack Obama insisted on making Mars a priority target. ESA plans to send humans in 2030-2035. There are a couple of non-profit organizations that are going to send small missions with a crew of up to 4 people. Moreover, they receive money from sponsors who dream of turning the trip into a live show.

Global activities were launched by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. He has already managed to make an incredible breakthrough - a reusable launch system that saves time and money. The first flight to Mars is planned for 2022. We are already talking about colonization.

Mars is considered the most studied alien planet in the solar system. Rovers and probes continue to explore its features, each time offering new information. It was possible to confirm that the Earth and the Red Planet converge in characteristics: polar glaciers, seasonal fluctuations, an atmospheric layer, running water. And there is evidence that previously there could have been life there. So we keep going back to Mars, which is likely to be the first planet to be colonized.

Scientists have still not lost hope of finding life on Mars, even if it is primitive remains and not living organisms. Thanks to telescopes and spacecraft, we always have the opportunity to admire Mars online. On the site you will find a lot of useful information, high-quality high-resolution photos of Mars and interesting facts about the planet. You can always use a 3D model of the Solar System to follow the appearance, characteristics and orbital motion of all known celestial bodies, including the Red Planet. Below is a detailed map of Mars.

Click on the image to enlarge it