1. A Report in Natural Science I
PLANET MARS
A Report in Natural Science I
Presented by:
Sheila Miranda BSE-I

2. Topics to be discussed Basics Orbit Topography Climate Water
Geological Periods
Atmosphere
Interior
The 2 Moons of Mars
Missions to Mars

3. BASICS Fourth planet from the sun. Named after the Roman God of Wars
Called the “RED PLANET” because of the iron oxide (rust) in the surface.
Earth is 9x bigger than Mars 
Apparent Magnitude: to 1.6

4. ORBIT OF MARS Mars is 230 million km away from the sun.
Mars’ solar day (sol) = 24 hours and 39 minutes  
Mars revolution = 687 earth days

5. Moons of mars
Phobos & Deimos

6. MOONS OF MARS discovered in 1877 by Asaph Hall
origin is possibly asteroid capture.
named after Greek mythology characters Panic and Dread
no total solar eclipses in Mars ; total lunar eclipses happen every night

7. atmosphere
Consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon and traces of oxygen and water
No magnetosphere 
Extremely thin atmosphere 

8. Interior Core – consists of iron + sulfur, partially fluid
Mantle – silicate
Crust – km thick

9. TOPOGRAPHY Olympus Mons
Highest mountain in the solar system (27km height)
Valles Marineris
- Largest known canyon in the solar system (4000km long)

10. TOPOGRAPHY Borealis Basin
(northern hemisphere) covers 40% of the planet

11. TOPOGRAPHY Sinus Meridiani Mars’ Prime Meridian Hellas Impact Basin
- Biggest impact crater in Mars

12. Water in mars
Water was speculated to be once present in Mars, but today, water cannot exist due to low atmospheric pressure  (except in low areas).

13. Water in mars Signs of water once existing in the planet include:
Its two permanent polar ice caps seem to be made of water. 
Geographical features that show water run-off or erosion.
Detection of specific minerals that are only present in water.  

14. Climate

15. Climate Largest dust storm in the solar system
Mars seasons are most Earth-like among all planets in the solar system
Temperature: -87˚C (winter) to -5˚C (summer)

16. GEOLOGICAL PERIODS Noachian Period named after Noachis Terra
4.5 – 3.5 billion years ago
oldest surfaces of Mars were created in this period, like the Tharsis bulge
Hesperian Period
named after Hesperia Planum
3.5 to 2.9 billion years ago
marked by the formation of extensive lava plains
Amazonian Period
named after Amazonis Planetia
2.9 billion years ago to present
Olympus Mons formed during this period

17. exploration Active Martian probes as of 2011:
Mars Reconnaissance  Orbiter (2006)
Mars Express (2003)
Mars Odyssey (2001)
Opportunity Rover (2004)

18. exploration Past Missions: Mariner 4 Mars 2 and 3 Viking Program
Mars Pathfinder
Sojourner
Phoenix Mars
Future Missions:
Curiosity (2011)
ExoMars (2018)

19. Man on mars?

20. Q U E S T I O N S ?