Mars is the fourth farthest planet from the Sun in the solar system. It is a terrestrial planet primarily composed of silicate rocks and metals, similar in some ways to Earth but also possessing many unique features. In Western culture, it is named after the Roman war god Mars. In Chinese, it is called “Mars”, meaning “Martian sphere”, also because of its unique red color.
The diameter of Mars is approximately 6779 kilometers, which is about half the diameter of Earth. Its mass is about 6.4171 × 10 ² ³ kilograms, accounting for about 10% of Earth’s mass. The surface of Mars has diverse landforms, including deserts, volcanoes, canyons, and polar ice caps.
The orbital period of Mars around the Sun is approximately 687 Earth days. The rotation speed of Mars is similar to that of Earth, with a rotation period of approximately 24.6 hours. Mars has a thin atmosphere and is further away from the sun, making it much colder than Earth. The average temperature on the surface of Mars is about minus 63 degrees Celsius, but the daytime temperature near the equator can reach up to 20 degrees Celsius, while the nighttime temperature in the polar regions can be as low as minus 140 degrees Celsius. There is evidence to suggest that there was once a large amount of liquid water on the surface of Mars. Scientists have discovered features such as river valleys, deltas, and lakebeds. Although it is now believed that most water is frozen in polar ice caps or underground, the discovery of water ice and occasional signs of liquid water leakage increase the possibility of life on Mars in the past or even present.
Many space agencies, including NASA, the European Space Agency, and China’s National Space Administration, have launched a large number of probes to Mars. This includes orbital probes such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, landing vehicles such as the Viking, and Mars rovers such as Curiosity and Zhurong. These tasks provide rich data for understanding the geology, climate, and potential for the existence of life on Mars.
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