Mars

The Red Planet

Basic Information

★ ½ the diameter of Earth

★ Year of 687 Earth days
★ Atmosphere consists of 95% Co2. The rest is N, O2 , and
water vapor
★ Temperature ranges from -140℃ to 20℃
★ Named after Ares, the Greek god of war
Topography

★ Dry Reddish Desert

■ Red color is due to iron oxide (rust) in the soil
★ ⅔ is heavily cratered land-Cratered Highlands
★ ⅓ is a smooth surface- Lava Plains
★ Along its equator there is an enormous elevated
region
■ Named Tharsis Bulge
★ Canyon-Valles Marineris
Volcanoes, Wind and Water

★ Largest Known Volcano- Olympus Mons

■ Roughly the size of Arizona

★ Winds up to 270 km (170 miles) per hour

★ No liquid water found Only frozen Ice caps