Martian Surface

The fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system. Mars orbits the Sun at an average distance of 1.52 AU. The planet has a mass 0.1 times the mass of Earth and a radius 0.5 times the radius of Earth. It is made of solid, rocky material, and has a thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide. Iron oxide, or rust, on the surface of Mars gives it its characteristic red color. The planet has bright polar ice caps made of frozen water and carbon dioxide. Mars also has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos.

Resources

The Solar System: Inner Planets: Mars Mars inspires speculation like no other world in...

Radio Programs

Secret Mars Unlocking the secrets of the Red Planet Friday, March 2, 2012
Warming Mars Warming up a desert planet Sunday, February 19, 2012
More Moon and Mars Scaling the heights of Mars Friday, January 13, 2012
Moon and Mars Molding the image of the Red Planet Friday, December 16, 2011
Mars Science Laboratory I Plumbing for water on Mars Tuesday, November 22, 2011
More Moon and Companions Settling in on a new world Friday, November 18, 2011
Moon and Mars Strolling on alien worlds Thursday, October 20, 2011
Watery Mars Divining for water on Mars Thursday, April 14, 2011
Living in Space III Keeping tidy on other worlds Thursday, September 16, 2010
Life in the Solar System Looking for life in all the right places Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Mars and Regulus II Stripping away the Martian atmosphere Monday, June 7, 2010
Lasers III Getting back at Mars Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Featured Images

Endeavour Crater, winter home of the Opportunity Mars rover
Winter Wonderland Thursday, January 26, 2012
Craters fill an ancient river channel on Mars
Martian Rapids Monday, October 10, 2011
Panoramic view of Endeavour crater on Mars, imaged by the Opportunity rover
Final Destination Thursday, August 11, 2011
Rock varnish on a rock from the Atacama Desert
Bacteria Colony? Friday, July 29, 2011
Scientists are studying rocks in Chile to learn about possible life on Mars
Looking for Life Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Chile's Atacama Desert is an analog for studying conditions on Mars
Mars on Earth Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Opportunity rover crosses the Martian plains toward Endeavour crater
Crater Crawling Saturday, April 16, 2011
Image of water distribution in northern hemisphere of Mars
Watery Mars Thursday, April 14, 2011
Ground and orbital views of Opportunity rover at Santa Maria crater
Looking In Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Over the Rim Friday, December 31, 2010
The Opportunity rover casts it shadow on the rim of a Martian crater
Martian Robot Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The next Mars rover, Curiosity, zaps a Martian rock with a small laser in this a
War of the Worlds? Wednesday, May 19, 2010

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