Mars-(Karis)

=**Orbital period:**= ====revolution in its orbit around the sun is 1.88 earth years (687 earth days)==== =**Date of discovery:**= ====In 1576, Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer made accurate calculations of the position of Mars with his eyes! He had a really keen eyesight that helped in calculating the position without sophisticated instruments in a matter of just 4 minutes! Wow! That's what I call a hawk's eyesight.==== No higher resolution available

=**History (scientific):**= ====Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has been the subject of scientific and popular culture fascination for centuries. Named after the Roman god of war, it has long been associated with warfare and slaughter. It is believed to be the planet most like Earth, and scientists continue to look for signs of life on the red planet's surface====

=**Mythology: - God of War**= ====Ares is the Greek god of war he was later identified with the roman war god Mars, Ares is the son of Zere and Heara. Ares has no wife, but had three children by Aphroolite, the Goddess of Love. The twins, Phobos, panic and Deimos, fear always accompanied him on the battlefield====

=**Size:**=

144,798,500 km2 ,this is about 28.4 present of earth total area
= **Composition:** = ==== Mars composition is similar to Earth in its basic composition. It has a core that is mainly iron and sulfur, wrapped in a mantle that is silicated, all of wich is cocooned by a crust that is made of basalt and just enough iron oxide to give the planet it characteristic reddish hue. ====

=** Atmospheric Conditions: **=

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): 95.32% Nitrogen (N2): 2.7% Argon (Ar): 1.6% Oxygen (O2): 0.13% Water (H2O): 0.03% Neon (Ne): 0.00025 %

=**Resources:**= ====The key life-support compounds O2, N2, and H2O are available on Mars. The soil could be used as radiation shielding and could provide many useful industrial and construction materials. Compounds with high chemical energy, such as rocket fuels, can be manufactured in-situ on Mars. Solar power, and possibly wind power, are available and practical on Mars.====

=**Significant & Noteworthy Features:**=
 * ==== The biggest mountain on Mars is the Olympus Mons, that is a dormant volcano. The biggest canyon in the system of the known universe 'Valles Marineris' is also found in planet Mars. ====
 * ==== The main reason why Mars was known as the Roman God of war, was due to its blood red color. The red color is actually due to presence of iron oxide, commonly known as rust in the planets soil. ====
 * ==== Mars is half the size of earth and has a third of earth gravity. ====
 * ==== There are numerous dust storms on Mars that are seen when the planet is closest to Sun and icy clouds of carbon dioxide and dust are seen when the planet is on the farther end of the orbit. ====
 * ==== Mars has two moons, Phobos (fear) and Deimios (panic). The Mars moons were discovered by Asaph Hall at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. He named the moons after the mythical horses that drew the chariot of Mars, the God of war. ====
 * ==== Scientist have said that Phobos orbits the planet at a very low altitude and that one day it will tear off from Mars gravity. It will survive as a ring and after a few years will rain done as debris on the planet. This may occur about 50 million years from now. ====
 * ==== Mars has only 1% air pressure found on Earth. The atmosphere contains 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon and trace amount of oxygen and hydrogen oxide. ====
 * ==== The equatorial radius of Mars is 3,397 km and the diameter is 6,794 km. ====
 * ==== Scientists have recently discovered there is enough water ice under the surface of Mars that can fill lake Michigan twice. ====
 * ==== A year on Mars is 687 Earth days and a day on Mars is equivalent to 1.026 Earth days. ====

=**What don't we know? :**=
 * 1) Is there water today ?
 * 2) What does the New World Order have to do with Mars?
 * 3) How many space agencies on earth have successfully landed a rover on Mars?
 * 4) Would there be life on Mars?[[image:http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AWhLIgtE3CU/TgLk77bIRrI/AAAAAAAAAdo/FU9SiPyQpdI/s1600/mars%2Bexploration%2Brover.jpg width="323" height="321" align="right"]]

=**Future plans or expeditions:**= ====In the future, NASA plans additional science orbiters, rovers and landers, and the first mission to return the most promising Martian samples to Earth. Current plans call for a Mars Scout mission (to be determined) to launch in 2011 and the first sample return mission to be launched no later than 2020. A CNES Orbiter will collect the samples from Mars Ascent Vehicles and bring them back to Earth. Technology development for advanced capabilities such as miniaturized surface science instruments and deep drilling to several hundred feet will also be carried out in this period.====

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