ASTR 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 35: Mariner 9, Valles Marineris, Olympus Mons

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy
• Course: ASTR 101
• Professor: David Alan Hanes

Document Summary

Reddish because of the iron content in its soil. Has two small moons, only 10-20 km across. Moons named phobos ( fear ) and deimos ( panic ). Represent the two hours that pulled the chariot of mars the god of war. Mars has 11% of the mass of the earth and 53% of its radius, so is similar in density (rocky) but has only 38% as strong gravity. It has thus retained only a very thin co2 atmosphere. It is 50% farther from the sun, so is cooler and has a longer orbital period (1. 88 earth years) It spins on its axis every 24 hrs and 37 mins. The polar caps contain frozen water and co2 (dry ice) Have been able to study face of mars thanks to telescopes and no clouds. Has changes in its surface coloration, the presence of dust storms, changes in the polar caps, etc. Historically, lots of room or optimism: generally earth-like".