AST-1A Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Mudcrack, Outflow Channels, Mineral Hydration
Document Summary
Fourth planet from the sun about size of earth. Called the red planet due to its rusty red colored surface from iron oxides. Because of the red color it was named after the god of war. Range minus -195of to plus +70of at equator, but at night that will drop to minus - 100of because of such a thin atmosphere (100 times thinner than earth"s atmosphere). Similar to earth with polar ice caps, a 24hr day and similar tilt creating seasons. 96% co2 similar to venus but very thin. Only about 1% as dense as earth"s atmosphere. Any liquid would boil away or evaporate instantly because of the low atm. pressure. Once had a dense atmosphere that could support liquid water on the surface and possibly life. Mars is too small so the interior of the planet cooled off. This would cause volcanoes to stop expelling gases.
