Mars


 * Mars: **
 * Composition: ( [|__http://www.space.com/16895-what-is-mars-made-of.html__] ) **
 * The Surface is made up of oxidized iron dust and rocks.
 * The dust that covers Mars is fine like talcum powder.
 * The next layer, the martian crust is made up mostly of volcanic basalt rock.
 * The mantle consists of silicon, oxygen, iron, and magnesium and is perceived to be 900 to 1,200 miles (5,400 to 7,200 kilometers) thick.
 * [[image:binderesssolarsystem/marsstructure.png align="center"]]
 * Mars’ solid is thought to be made up of iron, nickel, and sulfur.


 * Size: ( [|__http://www.space.com/16871-how-big-is-mars.html__] ) **
 * It is the second smallest planet.
 * It is half the size of Earth.
 * Mars’ diameter is 4,196 miles (6,752 km).
 * It’s circumference is about 13,300 miles (21,343 km).


 * Density: ( [|__http://www.universetoday.com/14887/density-of-mars/__] ) **
 * ( [|__http://www.space.com/16871-how-big-is-mars.html__] ) **
 * The mass of Mars is 6.42 x 10 23 kilograms.
 * On Mars someone who weighs 100 pounds, on Earth, would weigh 38 pounds.
 * The density of Mars is 3.94 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm 3 ).


 * Orbit: ( [|__http://www.universetoday.com/14828/orbit-of-mars/__] ) **
 * Mars is the second most unusual in our solar system, second to Mercury.
 * It takes Mars 687 Earth days to complete its orbit.
 * [[image:https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_UoOQX3GHv6LUd9U_Vnng1jLQzkuKwLGxKYUyZuMfIOxdZOAh6xsmyvjjecAHm3hFucEuYAJfDuvLPngQyCzeRUikrrF6LgfWaFfK9R5LJZB8qPy5xE4XGw1 width="400" height="295" align="center"]]


 * Surface features: ( [|__http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/mars/surface.html__] ) **
 * Olympus Mons, the tallest known mountain in the galaxy
 * about 25 km tall and 200 km across
 * Few shield volcanoes.
 * all enormous, in contrast to Earth’s volcanoes that form shorter but in more numbers. supposed to do with tectonic plates/activity
 * distinct absence of tectonic plates, one large crust.
 * because the crust doesn’t move over magma source, allows volcano to grow larger.
 * in contrast, Earth’s crust constantly shifts and magma erupts in different places.
 * Large canyon systems
 * evidence of water erosion
 * water is then evidence of a previously denser atmosphere
 * [[image:https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8qgEHMzRorxmr6b01VEzlo-cMqnIIS82cFMRLLDdrRQnDAWCloUNO11MEibFonJ_W2hcsmUs7X0PmMo6zWzUOtU4GScHAeBb2UhCTePXF7cEgQiGGFXleMI align="center"]]
 * Wind erosion
 * Polar caps composed of frozen carbon monoxide (dry ice) and frozen water


 * Surface temperature: ( [|__http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/mars101.php__] ) **
 * The average surface temperature is -63 degrees C (-81 degrees F), and nighttime temperatures on Mars can plunge to -110 degrees C (-170 degrees F).


 * Sustainability for life: ( [|__http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/mars101.php__] ) **
 * Humans cannot survive the Mars environment

media type="youtube" key="B8OUL9QYNpI" height="480" width="853" align="center"
 * Mars Rover: **

Bibliography: " What is Mars Made Of? | Composition of Planet Mars | Space.com ." Space and NASA News – Universe and Deep Space Information | Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. < [|__http://www.space.com/16895-what-is-mars-made-of.html__] >.

" How Big is Mars? | Size of Planet Mars | Space.com ." Space and NASA News – Universe and Deep Space Information | Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. < [|__http://www.space.com/16871-how-big-is-mars.html__] >.

"Density of Mars." Universe Today — Space and astronomy news. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. .

"Orbit of Mars." Universe Today — Space and astronomy news. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. < [|__http://www.universetoday.com/14828/orbit-of-mars/__] >.

"Surface Features of Mars." Surface Features of Mars. University of Tennissee, n.d. Web. 01 May 2013.

Image of Martian volcano. Digital image. Astronomy 161 The Solar System. University of Tennissee, n.d. Web. 1 May 2013.

Animation of tectonic plates. Digital image. Astronomy 161 The Solar System. University of Tennissee, n.d. Web. 1 May 2013.

"Mars 101 Is an Introduction to What We Know and Hope to Discover about Mars. Like the Researchers Studying the Red Planet, You Can Learn about Mars by Comparing Its Similarities and Differences to Earth." Phoenix Mars Mission. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2013.

Curiosity Rover Report (April 12, 2013): Mars' Bygone Atmosphere. Youtube, 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 1 May 2013.