It may be named after the Roman god of war, but its nickname, “the Red Planet,” is just as appropriate. Mars has fascinated Earthlings since its discovery by the ancient Greeks around 2,000 years ago. Scientists believe that if life exists anywhere in our solar system beyond Earth, it would be most likely to be found on Mars or one of Jupiter’s moons. For this reason alone Mars is one of the most studied planets in our solar system and a primary target for future manned missions. Here are some other facts about Mars you might find interesting:
Mars is named after the Roman god of war. Mars is also known as the red planet because of its reddish appearance. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, and it’s second smallest planet in our solar system. In our solar system, Mars has an average distance from Earth that ranges between 35 million miles (56 million kilometers) on its closest approach to Earth (perihelion) and 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) on its farthest escape from us (aphelion). It takes only 6 months for a spacecraft to reach Mars once it leaves Earth’s orbit, but a trip back home can take up to two years if you’re going by spaceship alone!
Scientists believe that if life exists anywhere in our solar system beyond Earth, it would be most likely to be found on Mars or one of Jupiter’s moons. If you’re looking for life outside of Earth, your best bet is Mars. Scientists believe that if life exists anywhere in our solar system beyond Earth, it would be most likely to be found on Mars or one of Jupiter’s moons. The reason is simple: they were larger than the Earth when they formed and are therefore thought to have had more time to develop life before they cooled off (so to speak).
Mars has many features that make it an excellent candidate for hosting microbial life today. For example, scientists think there may still be liquid water at its poles and possibly underneath frozen ground near its equator—and that it could have been hospitable enough in its early history for organisms to evolve on its surface as well as below ground. “We do know that there was once a lot more water on Mars than there is today,” says Bruce Jakosky from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.”It was probably warm enough back then for standing bodies of water.”
So, what’s next? The future of Mars exploration is still exciting and unpredictable. Whether it’s Martian colonies or a manned mission to the Red Planet, we can only wait and see. The more we learn about our celestial neighbor, the better prepared we will be when it comes time to make that historic journey
