Mars, Venus, planets
Although it’s impossible to say who first discovered Mars – it can easily be seen by the eye from Earth – modern-day science has helped us learn more about the planet. Thanks to high-tech spacecraft that have been sent to discover and explore Mars without the use of man, data concerning the composition and characteristics of Mars has been sent to Earth, along with pictures and other information that offer greater insight into the red planet’s origins, it’s future and how it compares to some of Earth’s characteristics. Some of the most interesting facts about Mars include the most basic information available to us about the planet’s environment.
Mars can be seen by the eye. Mars can easily be seen in the night sky without even the use of a telescope or other equipment. In fact, its brightness surpasses that of other planets that can be seen from Earth, including Venus. Mars is typically found in the southeast sky. While it sounds far, the closest Mars has been to Earth is about 34.65 million miles, which is relatively close in “space speak.” Look for a bright body of light near to the moon to see Mars for yourself.
Time on Mars is different than on Earth. Since our days and years are dependent upon the time it takes for the Earth to make a rotation and orbit the sun, respectively, it only makes sense that time on Mars is different than our own. Since Mars orbits at a similar speed as Earth, the days are similar. A day on Mars lasts 24 hours and 37 minutes. It’s the years that are completely different, lasting nearly twice our own at 687 days to our 365. That’s because Mars is over 141,000,000 miles from the sun and orbits slower than Earth.
You’d need a coat on Mars. If you were headed to Mars, you’d definitely want to pack some warm clothing. The warmest documented temperature on Mars is typically around a chilly 27 degrees Fahrenheit and it can get as cold as -125 degrees Fahrenheit. It definitely isn’t the planet to go for sunbathing and the freezing cold temperatures help to explain the icebergs and underground ice found on the red planet.
Mars is the second smallest planet. At only 4,222 miles in diameter, only Mercury is smaller than Mars in our solar system. Mars was downgraded from the third smallest to the second smallest planet when Pluto – originally the smallest – was downgraded from planet to planetoid. While Mars is often compared to Earth, Earth is over 7,900 miles in diameter and actually much larger than Mars. Venus is actually much closer in size to our own planet.
Mars has less gravity than Earth. Since Mars has less gravity than Earth, you’d actually weigh much less there than here at home. For instance, a person weighing 150 lbs. on Earth would weigh only 57 lbs. on Mars. Still, it’s not much of a diet plan and your mass would be the same, but it definitely would change what you saw on the scale!