Earth is the third planet from the sun, and Mars the fourth is a common truth. This, as well as the unrelenting attention of the press and scientists to "", led to the fact that the name of our space neighbor is so stuck on the teeth that it has become too familiar. Mars is something taken for granted, familiar and simple. Yes, and it is close - here, just stretch out your hand ... but in which direction to pull? In fact, the distance to Mars is not so small. Although, again, depending on how to count and what to take as a starting point. Distance from Mars to Earth? To the sun? Before ... And let's try to count in different ways?
How far is Mars from Earth?
Mars and the Earth revolve around the Sun at different speeds: the Earth's orbit is inside the orbit of Mars, so the Earth overcomes its circle around the center of the solar system much faster. In addition, both planets have orbits that are not regular circles, but somewhat elongated ellipses, which is especially noticeable in relation to Mars.
So the distance to Mars from the Earth can only be measured very roughly, and only for a specific point in time, because it is constantly changing. Theoretically, these two planets are on minimum distance from each other when Mars is located at the point closest to the sun (at perihelion), and the earth at the far point (at aphelion) of their orbits. In this situation, the planets will be separated by a distance of "only" 54.6 million kilometers.
However, a theory is a theory. In reality, at least in the history of mankind, there has never been such a rapprochement between Mars and Earth. The maximum approach was recorded in 2003, then Mars approached our planet at 56 million kilometers.
What can be maximum distance between earth and mars? Again, we resort to theoretical calculations and separate both planets according to their aphelia - that is, the far points of the orbits, when both the blue and red planets are on different sides from the sun. In this case, between Mars and the Earth will be no longer 54 million km, but all 401 million km - a distance exceeding the point of closest approach by 7.37 times!
On average, The distance from Mars to Earth is 225 million kilometers is greater than the distance from the earth to the sun.
When is it easier to launch a spacecraft to Mars?
In an endless run around the Sun, the Earth on its "inner track" of the orbit "overtakes" Mars every 26 months. It would seem that this is the time that is the “happy window” in order to send another to Mars, because the distance between the planets will be the smallest. However, in reality, the short cut is not always the best…. and also the shortest.
So in our case - firstly, even 54 million km - this is the distance that the spacecraft will have to overcome almost instantly. In fact, the journey will take him several months, and during this time our planets will “scatter”, and secondly, to fly in a direct ship, you just need a huge supply of fuel on board.
It is much easier and more economical to send our hypothetical Martian mission not in a straight line, but in a wide orbit around the Sun. The gravity of the sun will pick up the apparatus in given point and without any waste of fuel will accelerate it to the desired speed, giving a powerful impetus. A similar technique that makes the gravity of cosmic bodies work for us is called gravity maneuver or slingshot effect.
At the right moment, the ship will correct its path with the help of the engine and “jump off” the “solar path”, after which it will intersect with the orbit of Mars and reach its destination without any problems.
How far is Mars from the Sun?
As noted earlier, the orbit of Mars is very far from a perfect circle, and extremely elongated relative to the center (the sun). In the solar system, only Pluto can compete with Mars in terms of the degree of “ovality” of the orbit, but Pluto is not a full-fledged planet from the point of view of science, so here Mars is out of competition.
Due to the uneven curvature of the orbit, Mars is either approaching our star or moving away from it. At the furthest point (in aphelion) Mars separates 249 million km from the Sun, and in the closest (in perihelion) - approaches up to 206 million km. The average distance from Mars to the Sun is 228 million km - no wonder Mars is so cold!
A complete revolution of the red planet around the star occurs in 687 Earth days, respectively, the Martian year is 1.88 times longer than the earth.
Who first measured the distance to Mars?
The distance from Earth to Mars was first calculated by an astronomer Giovanni Cassini in 1672, using the parallax method. He made observations from Paris, and his colleague Jean Richet, at the same time made observations from French Guiana. Since the exact distance from Paris to French Guiana was known, they simply had to accurately detect the position of Mars in the sky at these two points, and produce no complex calculations. The error of Cassini's calculations was 7% - a very good result for the 17th century!
quoted1 > > How far is Mars from the Sun?
Distance from Sun to Mars: accurate data of aphelion and perihelion, features of the orbit in the solar system with a photo, tilt of the axis of Mars, research by spacecraft.
The scientific revolution proved that all celestial bodies in the solar system revolve around the sun (heliocentric system). Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and Newton helped study orbital paths solar planets with maximum precision. Let's look at the situation with Mars. We have a lot in common, but the orbit is different.
How far is Mars from the Sun at perihelion and aphelion
Average distance from the Sun to Mars is 228 million km. But after Mercury, it is the second most eccentric planet in orbit (0.0934) in the solar system. This means that the distance changes from 206,700,000 km to 249,200,000 km. An average orbital velocity of 24 km/s means that it takes 687 days for one rotation of the axis. A day is 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds long.
Also, the planet has a long-term increase in eccentricity. 19,000 years ago, it was minimal - 0.079, and after 24,000 years it will become 0.105. The Martian orbit will again be as round as possible in a million years.
Axial Tilt of Mars
The inclination of the axis of Mars is close to the Earth's and reaches 25.19°. This means that seasonal temperature fluctuations can be expected from the planet. Of course, it is colder there, but the principle remains.
The average temperature drops to -46°C, but can drop to -143°C and warm up to 35°C. So in certain time Mars is even warmer than Earth.
Orbit and seasonal changes
The temperature and season changes of the Red Planet are based on orbital changes. Eccentricity suggests that the planet at a distance from the Sun slows down the speed of movement and increases it nearby.
Aphelion coincides with spring in the northern hemisphere, which is why this is the longest Martian season (7 months). Summer - 6 months, autumn and winter - 5.3 and 4 months.
The red planet is at perihelion when the southern hemisphere is covered in summer and the northern hemisphere in winter. With aphelion, the opposite is true.
There is snow on Mars. In 2008, Phoenix managed to find water ice in the polar territories. Scientists predicted its presence, but no one expected to see snow fall from the clouds. This led to the idea that earlier the climate was warm and humid.
In 2012, the MRO noted that carbon dioxide was being deposited in the area as snowfall. Recent studies also show that 3.7 billion years ago there was more water than in modern Atlantic Ocean. Mars also had a viable atmosphere.
weather templates
Mars has a weather system. This is noted in the form of dangerous dust storms that periodically cover the entire surface. Able to stretch for thousands of kilometers and surround the planet with a thick layer. When they grow, they can block the view of the surface.
Thus, Mariner 9 was unlucky in 1971. When he sent his first pictures, the Martian surface was completely covered by a storm. It was so massive that only the highest Mount Olympus could be found.
In 2001, a dust storm was followed by Hubble telescope in the Hellas Basin. It became the largest in 25 years. Moreover, even amateur astronomers could observe it.
Storms appear most often when a planet approaches a star. The soil dries out and the dust is easier to pick up. These storms cause temperatures to rise, which creates their own greenhouse effect.
Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system. Most of the surface of Mars is a vast reddish expanse; the name of the planet is also associated with a reddish (as if bloody) color: in ancient Greek mythology Mars is the god of war.
Mars is smaller than Earth. Its diameter is about 6790 km. The magnetic field of Mars is much weaker than that of the Earth. The distance from Mars to the Sun is 228 million km. The period of revolution around the Sun is equal to 687 Earth days, i.e. 1.9 Earth years. The speed of rotation of Mars around its axis is 24 hours. 37 min. 23 sec. The inclination of the rotation axis to the orbit is 65°.
Mars has been under constant observation for a long time. They made it possible to notice two polar white caps, which alternately increase and decrease throughout the Martian year. It is assumed that these hats are not from ordinary ice, and from frozen carbon dioxide - "dry ice". Large spaces the planets occupy relatively light areas - the so-called "continents"; the rest of the territory is covered with dark areas called "seas". At times, a cloudy yellow veil covers vast spaces on Mars, hiding the surface of the planet from the cold. Scientists suggest that these are grandiose clouds of dust that form during storms on Mars. They make it difficult to observe this celestial body from Earth. Nevertheless, interplanetary stations have explored Mars at close range and have even landed on its surface. Thanks to them, we learned that Mars is very rarefied and consists mainly of carbon dioxide, - a person cannot breathe in such conditions.
Mars has been intensively studied since 1971. It was in May 1971 that two Soviet automatic stations, Mars-2 and Mars-3, were sent to the planet, which became the first artificial satellites planets. They left a pennant with a coat of arms on Mars Soviet Union, photographed the planet, researched the circumplanetary space.
The biggest mystery for humanity remains everything that is outside our planet. How much unknown and undiscovered is fraught with dark space. I am glad that today we know the information, albeit not all, about the nearby planets. Let's talk about Mars today.
Mars is the fourth planet farthest from the Sun and closest to Earth. This planet is approximately 4.6 billion years old, like the Earth, Venus and the rest of the planets in the solar system.
The name of the planet comes from the name of the ancient Roman and Greek god of war - ARES. The Romans and Greeks associated the planet with war because of its resemblance to blood. If you look at Mars from Earth, then this planet red-orange color. The color of the planet is due to the abundant content of iron minerals in the soil.
In the recent past, scientists have discovered channels, valleys and moats on the surface of Mars, and deposits of a thick layer of ice at the north and south poles have also been found, which proves that water once existed on Mars. If this is true, then water may still be in the cracks and wells of the planet's underground rocks. In addition, a group of researchers claim that living beings once lived on Mars. In evidence, they cite certain kinds of materials found in a meteorite that fell to Earth. True, the claims of this group did not convince most scientists.
The surface of Mars is very diverse. Some of the impressive features include: a canyon system that is much deeper and longer than the Grand Canyon in the US, and mountain system, whose highest point is much higher than Mount Everest. The density of the atmosphere of Mars is 100 times less than that of the Earth. However, this does not prevent the formation of such phenomena as clouds and wind. Huge dust storms sometimes rage all over the planet.
Mars is much colder than Earth. Surface temperatures range from the coldest -125° Celsius recorded near the poles to winter period, to the highest + 20 ° Celsius recorded at noon near the equator. The average temperature is approximately -60° Celsius.
This planet does not look like Earth in many ways, mainly due to the fact that it is much further from the Sun and much smaller than Earth. The average distance from Mars to the Sun is about 227,920,000 km, which is 1.5 times greater than the distance from the Earth to the Sun. The average value of the radius of Mars is 3390 km - this is about half the radius of the Earth.
Physical characteristics of Mars
Orbit and rotation of the planet
Like the rest of the planets in the solar system, Mars revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit. But its orbit is more elongated than the orbit of the Earth and other planets. The greatest distance from the Sun to Mars is 249,230,000 km, the smallest is 206,620,000 km. The length of a year is 687 Earth days. The length of a day is 24 hours 39 minutes and 35 seconds.
The distance between Earth and Mars depends on the position of these planets in their orbits. It can vary from 54,500,000 km to 401,300,000 km. Mars is closest to Earth during opposition, when the planet is in the opposite direction from the Sun. Confrontations are repeated every 26 months in different points orbits of Mars and Earth.
Like the Earth, the axis of Mars is inclined relative to the plane of the orbit by 25.19° compared to 23.45° of the Earth. This is reflected in the amount of sunlight falling on some parts of the planet, which in turn affects the occurrence of seasons, similar to the seasons on Earth.
Mass and Density
The mass of Mars is 6.42 * 1020 tons, which is 10 times less than the mass of the Earth. The density is about 3.933 grams per cubic centimeter, which is about 70% of the density of the Earth.
Gravitational forces
Due to the planet's smaller size and density, gravity on Mars is 38% of Earth's. Therefore, if a person stands on Mars, he will feel as if his weight has been reduced by 62%. Or, if he drops a stone, then this stone will fall much more slowly than the same stone on Earth.
The internal structure of Mars
All information received about internal structure planet is based: on calculations related to the mass, rotation, density of the planet; on knowledge of the properties of other planets; on the analysis of Martian meteorites that fell to Earth, as well as on data collected from research vehicles in orbit around the planet. All this makes it possible to assume that Mars, like the Earth, may consist of three main layers:
- martian crust;
- mantle;
- nucleus.
Bark. Scientists suggest that the thickness of the Martian crust is approximately 50 km. The thinnest part of the crust is in the northern hemisphere. Most of the rest of the crust is composed of volcanic rocks.
Mantle. The mantle is close in composition to the Earth's mantle. As on Earth, the planet's main source of heat is radioactive decay - the decay of the nuclei of atoms of elements such as uranium, potassium and thorium. Due to radioactive radiation, the average temperature of the Martian mantle can be approximately 1500 degrees Celsius.
Nucleus. The main constituents of the core of Mars are probably: iron, nickel and sulfur. Information about the density of the planet gives some idea of the size of the core, which is supposed to be smaller than the core of the Earth. Perhaps the radius of the core of Mars is approximately 1500-2000 km.
Unlike the core of the Earth, which is partially molten, the core of Mars must be solid, since this planet does not have enough magnetic field. However, data from the space station shows that some of the oldest Martian rocks were formed as a result of the influence of a large magnetic field - this suggests that Mars had a molten core in the distant past.
Description of the surface of Mars
The surface of Mars is very diverse. Except mountains, plains, polar ice, almost the entire surface is densely dotted with craters. In addition, the entire planet is shrouded in fine-grained reddish dust.
Plains
Most of the surface consists of flat, low-lying plains, which are mostly located in the northern hemisphere of the planet. One of these plains is the lowest and relatively smooth of all the plains of the solar system. This smoothness was probably achieved by sediment deposits (tiny particles that settle to the bottom of the liquid) formed as a result of the presence of water in this place - which is one of the evidence that there was once water on Mars.
canyons
Along the planet's equator is one of the most striking places - the canyon system known as the Marinera Valley, named after the Marinera 9 space research station, which first discovered the valley in 1971. The Mariner Valley stretches from east to west and is approximately 4000 km long, which is equal to the width of the continent of Australia. Scientists believe that these canyons were formed as a result of a split and stretching of the planet's crust, the depth in some places reaches 8-10 km.
Mariner Valley on Mars. Photo from astronet.ru
Channels emerge from the eastern part of the valley, and in some places layered deposits have been found. Based on these data, it can be assumed that the canyons were partially filled with water.
Volcanoes on Mars
On Mars is the most big volcano in the solar system - the volcano Olympus Mons (translated from Latin. Mount Olympus) with a height of 27 km. The diameter of the mountain is 600 km. Three other large volcanoes, the mountains of Arsia, Ascreus and Povonis, are located on a huge volcanic highland called Tarsis.
All the slopes of volcanoes on Mars gradually rise, similar to the volcanoes in Hawaii. Hawaiian and Martian volcanoes are enclosing, formed from lava eruptions. None currently found active volcano on Mars. Traces of volcanic ash on the slopes of other mountains suggest that Mars was once volcanically active.
Craters and river basins of Mars
A large number of meteorites caused damage to the planet, forming craters on the surface of Mars. The phenomenon of impact craters is rare on Earth for two reasons: 1) those craters that formed at the beginning of the planet's history are already eroded; 2) Earth has a very dense atmosphere that prevents meteorites from falling.
Martian craters are similar to craters on the moon and other objects in the solar system, which have deep, bowl-shaped bottoms with raised, wheel-shaped edges. Large craters may have central peaks formed as a result of the shock wave.
Smiling crater. Photo from astrolab.ru
The number of craters on Mars varies from place to place. Almost the entire southern hemisphere is littered with craters. different sizes. The largest crater on Mars is the Hellas Basin (lat. Hellas Planitia) in the southern hemisphere, with a diameter of approximately 2300 km. The depth of the depression is about 9 km.
Channels and river valleys have been found on the surface of Mars, many of which were spilled over low-lying plains. Scientists suggest that the Martian climate was warm enough, since water existed in liquid form.
Polar deposits
Most interesting feature Mars are thick accumulations of finely stratified sediments located at both poles of Mars. Scientists believe that the layers are composed of a mixture of water ice and dust. The atmosphere of Mars probably retained these layers for a long period. They can serve as evidence of seasonal weather activity and long-term climate change. The ice caps of both hemispheres of Mars remain frozen throughout the year.
Climate and Atmosphere of Mars
Atmosphere
The atmosphere of Mars is rarefied, the oxygen content in the atmosphere is only 0.13%, while in the Earth's atmosphere it is 21%. Carbon dioxide content - 95.3%. Other gases contained in the atmosphere include nitrogen - 2.7%; argon - 1.6%; carbon monoxide - 0.07% and water - 0.03%.
Atmosphere pressure
Atmospheric pressure on the planet's surface is only 0.7 kPa, which is 0.7% of the atmospheric pressure on the Earth's surface. When the seasons change Atmosphere pressure fluctuates.
Mars temperature
At high altitudes in the region of 65-125 km from the surface of the planet, the temperature of the atmosphere is -130 degrees Celsius. Closer to the surface, the average daily temperature of Mars ranges from -30 to -40 degrees. Right near the surface, the temperature of the atmosphere can vary greatly throughout the day. Even around the equator late at night, it can reach -100 degrees.
The temperature of the atmosphere can rise when dust storms rage on the planet. dust absorbs sunlight, and then transfers most of the heat to the gases of the atmosphere.
Clouds
Clouds on Mars form only at high altitudes, in the form of frozen particles of carbon dioxide. Frost and fog appear especially early in the morning. Fog, frost and clouds on Mars are very similar to each other.
Dust cloud. Photo from astrolab.ru
Wind
On Mars, as on Earth, there is a general circulation of the atmosphere, expressed in the form of wind, which is characteristic of the entire planet. The main reason for the occurrence of winds is solar energy and the uneven distribution of it on the surface of the planet. average speed surface winds is approximately 3 m/s. Scientists have recorded wind gusts up to 25 m/s. However, gusts of wind on Mars have much less power than similar gusts on Earth - this is due to the low density of the planet's atmosphere.
dust storms
Dust storms are the most impressive weather phenomenon on Mars. This is a swirling wind that can pick up dust from the surface in a short time. The wind looks like a tornado.
The formation of large dust storms on Mars occurs as follows: when strong wind begins to raise dust into the atmosphere, this dust absorbs sunlight and thereby warms the air around it. As soon as it rises warm air there is even more wind, which raises even more dust. As a result, the storm becomes even stronger.
At large scales, dust storms can envelop a surface area of more than 320 km. During the largest storms, dust can cover the entire surface of Mars. Storms of this size can last for months, obscuring the entire planet from view. Such storms were recorded in 1987 and 2001. Dust storms are more likely to occur when Mars is closest to the Sun, since at such times solar energy heats up the planet's atmosphere more.
Moons of Mars
Mars is accompanied by two small satellites - Phobos and Deimos (sons of the god Ares), which were named and discovered in 1877 by the American astronomer Asaph Hall. Both satellites have irregular shape. largest diameter Phobos is approximately 27 km, Deimos - 15 km.
Satellites have a large number of craters, most of which were formed as a result of meteorite impacts. In addition, Phobos has many grooves - cracks that could be formed during the collision of a satellite with a large asteroid.
Scientists still do not know how and where these satellites were formed. It is believed that they were formed during the formation of the planet Mars. According to another version, the satellites used to be asteroids flying near Mars, and the gravitational force of the planet pulled them into its orbit. Evidence for the latter is that both moons are dark gray in color, which is similar to the color of certain types of asteroids.
Astronomical observations from Mars
After the landings automatic devices to the surface of Mars, it became possible to conduct astronomical observations directly from the surface of the planet. Due to the astronomical position of Mars in the solar system, the characteristics of the atmosphere, the period of revolution of Mars and its satellites, the picture of the night sky of Mars (and astronomical phenomena observed from the planet) differs from the earth's and in many ways seems unusual and interesting.
During sunrise and sunset, the Martian sky at the zenith has a reddish-pink color, and in close proximity to the disk of the Sun - from blue to purple, which is completely opposite to the picture of earthly dawns.
At noon, the sky of Mars is yellow-orange. The reason for these differences from colors terrestrial sky - the properties of a thin, rarefied atmosphere containing suspended dust of Mars. Presumably, the yellow-orange coloration of the sky is also caused by the presence of 1% magnetite in dust particles that are constantly present in the Martian atmosphere and raised by seasonal dust storms. Twilight begins long before sunrise and lasts long after sunset. Sometimes the color of the Martian sky takes on purple hue as a result of light scattering on microparticles of water ice in clouds (the latter is a rather rare phenomenon). Earth on Mars is observed as a morning or evening star, rising before dawn or visible in the evening sky after sunset. Mercury from Mars is practically inaccessible to observation with the naked eye due to its extreme proximity to the Sun. The brightest planet in the sky of Mars is Venus, in second place is Jupiter (its four largest satellites can be seen with the naked eye), in third is Earth.
The satellite Phobos, when observed from the surface of Mars, has an apparent diameter of about 1/3 of the disk of the Moon in the earth's sky. Phobos rises in the west and sets in the east and crosses the sky of Mars twice a day. The movement of Phobos across the sky is easily seen during the night, as is the change of phases. With the naked eye, you can see the largest detail of the relief of Phobos - the Stickney crater.
The second satellite Deimos rises in the east and sets in the west, looks like bright Star without a noticeable visible disk, slowly crossing the sky for 2.7 Martian days. Both satellites can be observed in the night sky at the same time, in which case Phobos will move towards Deimos. The brightness of both Phobos and Deimos is sufficient for objects on the surface of Mars to cast sharp shadows at night.
Mars evolution
By studying the surface of Mars, scientists have learned how Mars has evolved since its formation. They compared the stages of the planet's evolution with the age of various regions of the surface. How more number craters in a region, the older the surface there.
Scientists conditionally divided the life expectancy of the planet into three stages: the Noachian era, the Hesperian and Amazonian era.
Noachian era. The Noachian era is named after the vast mountainous region in the planet's southern hemisphere. During this period, a huge number of objects, from small meteorites to large asteroids, collided with Mars, leaving behind many craters of various sizes.
The Noachian period was also characterized by great volcanic activity. In addition, during this period, river valleys may have been formed, which left an imprint on the surface of the planet. The existence of these valleys suggests that during the Noachian era the climate on the planet was warmer than it is now.
Hesperian era. The Hesperian era is named after a plain located in the low latitudes of the southern hemisphere. During this period, the intense impact of the planet by meteorites and asteroids gradually subsided. However, volcanic activity still continued. Volcanic eruptions covered most of the craters.
Amazonian era. The era is named after a plain located in the northern hemisphere of the planet. At this time, the collision with meteorites is observed to a lesser extent. Volcanic activity is also characteristic, and the eruptions of the largest volcanoes occurred during this period. Also during this period, new geological materials were formed, including layered ice deposits.
Is there life on Mars?
Scientists believe that Mars has three main components necessary for life:
- chemical elements, such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, with the help of which organic elements are formed;
- a source of energy that living organisms can use;
- water in liquid form.
The researchers suggest: if once there was life on Mars, then living organisms can exist today. As evidence, they cite the following arguments: the main chemical elements necessary for life were probably present on the planet throughout its history. The source of energy could be the sun, as well as the internal energy of the planet itself. Water in liquid form could also exist, since channels, ditches and a huge amount of ice, more than 1 m high, were found on the surface of Mars. Therefore, water can now exist in liquid form under the surface of the planet. And this proves the possibility of the existence of life on the planet.
In 1996, scientists led by David S. McCain reported that they had found evidence of microscopic life on Mars. Their evidence was confirmed by a meteorite that fell to Earth from Mars. The team's evidence included complex organic molecules, grains of the mineral magnetite that can form within certain types of bacteria, and tiny compounds that resemble petrified microbes. However, the conclusions of scientists are very contradictory. But there is still no general scientific agreement that there has never been life on Mars.
Why can't humans go to Mars?
The main reason for the impossibility of flying to Mars is the radiation exposure of astronauts. Outer space is filled with protons from solar flares, gamma rays from newly formed black holes, and cosmic rays from exploding stars. All these radiations can cause enormous damage to the human body. Scientists have calculated that the likelihood of cancer in humans after a flight to Mars will increase by 20%. Whereas in a healthy person who has not gone into space, the probability of developing cancer is 20%. It turns out that having flown to Mars, the probability that a person will die of cancer is 40%.
The greatest threat to astronauts is galactic cosmic rays, which can accelerate to the speed of light. One of the varieties of such rays are the heavy rays of ionized nuclei such as Fe26. These rays are much more energetic than typical solar flare protons. They can penetrate the surface of the ship, the skin of people, and after penetration, like small guns tearing the strands of DNA molecules, killing cells and damaging genes.
The astronauts of the Apollo spacecraft, during a flight to the Moon that lasted only a few days, reported seeing flashes of cosmic rays. After some time, almost most of them developed cataracts of the eye. This flight took only a few days, while a flight to Mars may take a year or more.
In order to find out all the risks of flying to Mars, in New York in 2003 a new space laboratory radiation. Scientists model particles that mimic cosmic rays and investigate their effects on living cells in the body. Having found out all the risks, it will be possible to find out from what material it is necessary to build spaceship. Perhaps there will be enough aluminum, from which most spacecraft are now built. But there is another material - polyethylene, capable of absorbing cosmic rays by 20% more than aluminum. Who knows, maybe someday plastic ships will be built ...
In light of recent reports that scientists are recruiting a team of volunteers to establish a colony on the red planet, everyone more people want to know what is the distance from Earth to Mars, and how long can it be overcome? Before answering these questions, it is worth remembering what kind of planet it is.
Mars
First of all, you should know that this is the fourth planet from the star. The distance between Earth and Mars is such that it is the second closest planet to us. She is solid, physical characteristics very close to the same parameters of the Earth. In addition, we have similar landscapes. Scientists believe that some time ago, the red planet even had an atmosphere similar to ours, from which this moment almost nothing is left. It is this similarity, and the presence of water in at least some form, that makes Mars so desirable for exploration and the dream of space settlers.
drone flight
It is impossible to say for sure what is the distance from Earth to Mars. The fact is that the planets are moving all the time, respectively, this value changes. In those moments when Mars is the most distant from our planet, about 400 million kilometers separate us. Sound travels that distance in 22 seconds, while an aircraft takes much longer.
The smallest theoretical distance from Earth to Mars in kilometers is 54 million 60 thousand. The planets have never come so close in the history of mankind. In order for this to happen, the following is necessary: Mars must be at its closest point to the Sun, while the Earth, on the contrary, at its farthest. Only if these conditions are strictly observed, the planets will be as close to each other as possible.
Over the past 60 thousand years, the most close quarters from Earth to Mars was 56 million kilometers. It happened in 2003.
To date, the fastest device is New Horizons. Its speed at the beginning of the journey is 58 thousand km / h. At this speed, the shortest distance from Earth to Mars will take him 39 days, the longest - 289.
It is worth noting that these are rather conditional calculations, because for them only direct distance between planets. Whereas a spacecraft cannot fly along such a trajectory, with today's technologies. He will interfere with the gravity of both the planets themselves and our star.
In addition, the calculation refers to the distance to which the planets will be removed at the time the operation begins. However, even a month of flight will change it.
This means that very complex and accurate calculations so that the ship reaches its final destination and successfully completes its journey on the red planet.
manned flight
To date, the fastest flight to Mars has ended 128 days after launch. The longest is 333 days. These were unmanned vehicles, for which cosmic radiation is not as dangerous as it is for humans. That is why, before sending a manned spacecraft, it is necessary to calculate very carefully how long it takes to fly to Mars from Earth, how to make this flight as safe as possible, what people will need during the trip, and so on. Of course, a ship with people cannot fly to the most distant planet - today our technologies and speeds do not allow such a flight. In the coming years, it is planned to try to travel to the planet at the moment when it approaches the Earth. But even such a flight is expected to take from 7 to 9 months.
Colony on Mars
Currently, work is underway on the Mars-1 project, within the framework of which it is planned to create a colony on Mars. The organizer is private company, which by 2027 plans to "set up tents" on the red planet.
However, scientists believe that such statements are premature. And not so much because the technical equipment of earthlings does not allow participating in events of such a scale, but because it is too dangerous for a person. No less frightening is the fact that the proposed flight is a one-way ticket.
- If the diameter of our planet were only one meter, the distance from the Earth to Mars in kilometers would be 8. Whereas the Moon would be only 30 meters from us.
- If we imagine that the size of the Sun is equal to the size of the door, then the Earth would be just a hole in it, and Mars would not exceed the size of a pill.
- A Martian day is 24 hours and 37 minutes in Earth time. The planet passes around the star for 687 Earth days.
- Due to the low gravity of Mars, a person weighing 100 kg on Earth will see the number 38 on the scales there.
- Currently, more than 40 missions have been studying the red planet. Today we know more about it than about the bottom of the oceans on our own planet.
- Mars can be seen from Earth without special equipment.
- Mars is called the red planet because of its hue due to high content iron oxides in soils.
- The minimum temperature is -153 degrees. Maximum +20.
