Explore Mars - Revision history

WikiSysop: /* Imaging with Telescopes */

2013-10-23T03:34:35Z

Imaging with Telescopes

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:34, 23 October 2013
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	NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took this image when Mars was just 88 million kilometers (55 million miles) away from Earth in 2007. The image was assembled from a series of exposures taken during opposition that year. That's when Mars appears to rise at sunset, and the Earth is passing Mars at their point of closest approach.		NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took this image when Mars was just 88 million kilometers (55 million miles) away from Earth in 2007. The image was assembled from a series of exposures taken during opposition that year. That's when Mars appears to rise at sunset, and the Earth is passing Mars at their point of closest approach.
	Mars and Earth have a "close encounter" such as this about every 26 months, and the last one was in the spring of ~~2010~~. These periodic encounters are due to the differences in the two planets' orbits. Earth goes around the Sun twice as fast as Mars, lapping the Red Planet about every two years. Both planets have elliptical orbits, so their close encounters are not always at the same distance. In its close encounter with Earth in 2003, for example, Mars was 32 million kilometers closer than was is in this 2007 closest approach, resulting in a much larger image of Mars as viewed from Earth in 2003.		Mars and Earth have a "close encounter" such as this about every 26 months, and the last one was in the spring of 2012. These periodic encounters are due to the differences in the two planets' orbits. Earth goes around the Sun twice as fast as Mars, lapping the Red Planet about every two years. Both planets have elliptical orbits, so their close encounters are not always at the same distance. In its close encounter with Earth in 2003, for example, Mars was 32 million kilometers closer than was is in this 2007 closest approach, resulting in a much larger image of Mars as viewed from Earth in 2003.

	The two dominant dark swatches seen just south of the equator on this part of the planet are well observed regions that were originally labeled by early Mars observers. The large triangular shape to the right is Syrtis Major. The horizontal lane to the left is Sinus Meridani. One of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, named "Opportunity," landed at the western end of this region in January 2004. At the intersection of these two features is the prominent Huygens crater with a diameter of 270 miles (450 kilometers). South of Huygens is the Hellas impact basin, with a diameter of 1,100 miles (1,760 km) and a depth of nearly 5 miles (8 km). Hellas was formed billions of years ago when an asteroid collided into the Mars surface.		The two dominant dark swatches seen just south of the equator on this part of the planet are well observed regions that were originally labeled by early Mars observers. The large triangular shape to the right is Syrtis Major. The horizontal lane to the left is Sinus Meridani. One of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, named "Opportunity," landed at the western end of this region in January 2004. At the intersection of these two features is the prominent Huygens crater with a diameter of 270 miles (450 kilometers). South of Huygens is the Hellas impact basin, with a diameter of 1,100 miles (1,760 km) and a depth of nearly 5 miles (8 km). Hellas was formed billions of years ago when an asteroid collided into the Mars surface.

WikiSysop: /* Something New */

2012-10-10T05:32:00Z

Something New

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:32, 10 October 2012
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	[http://earth.google.com/mars/ Google Earth] on the lab computers or your laptop will link an interactive globe to the latest data. Otherwise you may use the NASA websites along with [http://www.google.com/mars www.google.com/mars] and the sidebar indices to explore the latest discoveries.		[http://earth.google.com/mars/ Google Earth] on the lab computers or your laptop will link an interactive globe to the latest data. Otherwise you may use the NASA websites along with [http://www.google.com/mars www.google.com/mars] and the sidebar indices to explore the latest discoveries.

	''9. Where is Gale Crater on Mars? Identify it with respect to larger features.''		''10. Where is Gale Crater on Mars? Identify it with respect to larger features.''


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	''10. Find something of interest to you that is "recent", from one of the NASA or ESA missions within the last two years, or last two weeks! Describe what you found, and your interpretation of its importance relative to our understanding of Mars.''		''11. Find something of interest to you that is "recent", from one of the NASA or ESA missions within the last two years, or last two weeks! Describe what you found, and your interpretation of its importance relative to our understanding of Mars.''

WikiSysop: /* Something New */

2012-10-10T05:23:03Z

Something New

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:23, 10 October 2012
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	Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration ~~Rovers~~ Spirit ~~and~~ Opportunity ~~are reporting~~ from the ~~surface~~. Mars Science Laboratory launched in November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. It placed the [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/ Curiosity Rover] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_%28crater%29 Gale] crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.		Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration Rover Spirit reported from the surface for 6 years, from 2004 to 2010. The Opportunity Rover from the same mission is still active.

			Mars Science Laboratory launched in November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. It placed the [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/ Curiosity Rover] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_%28crater%29 Gale] crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.

WikiSysop: /* Something New */

2012-10-10T05:20:02Z

Something New

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:20, 10 October 2012
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	Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are reporting from the surface. Mars Science Laboratory launched in November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. It placed the [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/ Curiosity Rover] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_%28crater%29 Gale] crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.		Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are reporting from the surface. Mars Science Laboratory launched in November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. It placed the [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/ Curiosity Rover] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_%28crater%29 Gale] crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.


	[[File:mars-rover-landing-site-chosen-gale-crater.jpg \| 600 px \| center]]		[[File:mars-rover-landing-site-chosen-gale-crater.jpg \| 600 px \| center]]

WikiSysop: /* Something New */

2012-10-10T05:19:42Z

Something New

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:19, 10 October 2012
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	* [http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/ Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]		* [http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/ Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]
	* [http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/index.html Mars Exploration Rovers]		* [http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/index.html Mars Exploration Rovers]
	* [http://~~phoenix~~.~~lpl~~.~~arizona~~.~~edu~~/~~index.php~~ Mars ~~Phoenix~~]		* [http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ Curiosity - Mars Science Laboratory]


	Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are reporting from the surface. Mars ~~Phoenix is not currently~~ in ~~contact, but landed near the north polar of~~ Mars ~~and returned information about the suitability for life~~ in ~~this region expected to have water~~.		Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are reporting from the surface. Mars Science Laboratory launched in November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. It placed the [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/ Curiosity Rover] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_%28crater%29 Gale] crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.

	~~The~~ [http://~~marsprogram~~.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ ~~Mars Science Laboratory~~] ~~mission is being prepared for launch~~ in ~~November 2011, with arrival on Mars in August 2012~~. ~~It will place the Curiosity rover in~~ Gale crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.

	[[File:mars-rover-landing-site-chosen-gale-crater.jpg \| 600 px \| center]]		[[File:mars-rover-landing-site-chosen-gale-crater.jpg \| 600 px \| center]]

WikiSysop: /* Something New */

2011-10-24T17:02:52Z

Something New

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:02, 24 October 2011
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	Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are reporting from the surface. Mars Phoenix is not currently in contact, but landed near the north polar of Mars and returned information about the suitability for life in this region expected to have water.		Reconnaissance Orbiter is returning images and other scientific measurements from orbit. The Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are reporting from the surface. Mars Phoenix is not currently in contact, but landed near the north polar of Mars and returned information about the suitability for life in this region expected to have water.

	The [http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ Mars Science Laboratory] mission is being prepared for launch in ~~December~~ 2011, with arrival on Mars in August 2012. It will place the Curiosity rover in Gale crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.		The [http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ Mars Science Laboratory] mission is being prepared for launch in November 2011, with arrival on Mars in August 2012. It will place the Curiosity rover in Gale crater to look for conditions and evidence for microbial life.

	[[File:mars-rover-landing-site-chosen-gale-crater.jpg \| 600 px \| center]]		[[File:mars-rover-landing-site-chosen-gale-crater.jpg \| 600 px \| center]]

WikiSysop: /* Valles Marineris */

2011-10-24T17:02:00Z

Valles Marineris

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:02, 24 October 2011
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	A large chasm called Valles Marineris crosses the midsection of Mars. To gain a real sense of its enormous extent find in Google Earth, or on the [http://www.google.com/mars www.google.com/mars] website.		A large chasm called Valles Marineris crosses the midsection of Mars. To gain a real sense of its enormous extent find in Google Earth, or on the [http://www.google.com/mars www.google.com/mars] website.

	''9. How long is Valles Marineris in kilometers? Compare this to the Grand Canyon on Earth, which is about ~~100~~ km long.''		''9. How long is Valles Marineris in kilometers? Compare this to the Grand Canyon on Earth, which is about 400 km long.''



	== Something New ==		== Something New ==

WikiSysop: /* Imaging with Telescopes */

2011-09-13T04:41:02Z

Imaging with Telescopes

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:41, 13 September 2011
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	NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took this image when Mars was just 88 million kilometers (55 million miles) away from Earth in 2007. The image was assembled from a series of exposures taken during opposition that year. That's when Mars appears to rise at sunset, and the Earth is passing Mars at their point of closest approach.		NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took this image when Mars was just 88 million kilometers (55 million miles) away from Earth in 2007. The image was assembled from a series of exposures taken during opposition that year. That's when Mars appears to rise at sunset, and the Earth is passing Mars at their point of closest approach.
	Mars and Earth have a "close encounter" such as this about every 26 months, and one ~~is going on now~~ in the spring of 2010. These periodic encounters are due to the differences in the two planets' orbits. Earth goes around the Sun twice as fast as Mars, lapping the Red Planet about every two years. Both planets have elliptical orbits, so their close encounters are not always at the same distance. In its close encounter with Earth in 2003, for example, Mars was 32 million kilometers closer than was is in this 2007 closest approach, resulting in a much larger image of Mars as viewed from Earth in 2003.		Mars and Earth have a "close encounter" such as this about every 26 months, and the last one was in the spring of 2010. These periodic encounters are due to the differences in the two planets' orbits. Earth goes around the Sun twice as fast as Mars, lapping the Red Planet about every two years. Both planets have elliptical orbits, so their close encounters are not always at the same distance. In its close encounter with Earth in 2003, for example, Mars was 32 million kilometers closer than was is in this 2007 closest approach, resulting in a much larger image of Mars as viewed from Earth in 2003.

	The two dominant dark swatches seen just south of the equator on this part of the planet are well observed regions that were originally labeled by early Mars observers. The large triangular shape to the right is Syrtis Major. The horizontal lane to the left is Sinus Meridani. One of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, named "Opportunity," landed at the western end of this region in January 2004. At the intersection of these two features is the prominent Huygens crater with a diameter of 270 miles (450 kilometers). South of Huygens is the Hellas impact basin, with a diameter of 1,100 miles (1,760 km) and a depth of nearly 5 miles (8 km). Hellas was formed billions of years ago when an asteroid collided into the Mars surface.		The two dominant dark swatches seen just south of the equator on this part of the planet are well observed regions that were originally labeled by early Mars observers. The large triangular shape to the right is Syrtis Major. The horizontal lane to the left is Sinus Meridani. One of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, named "Opportunity," landed at the western end of this region in January 2004. At the intersection of these two features is the prominent Huygens crater with a diameter of 270 miles (450 kilometers). South of Huygens is the Hellas impact basin, with a diameter of 1,100 miles (1,760 km) and a depth of nearly 5 miles (8 km). Hellas was formed billions of years ago when an asteroid collided into the Mars surface.
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	There is a movie at this link that will show you how to use this software which we recommend strongly.		There is a movie at this link that will show you how to use this software which we recommend strongly.



	== The Orbit of Mars ==		== The Orbit of Mars ==

WikiSysop: /* Something New */

2011-09-12T19:50:03Z

Something New

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 12 September 2011
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	10. Find something of interest to you that is "recent", from one of the NASA or ESA missions within the last two years, or last two weeks! Describe what you found, and your interpretation of its importance relative to our understanding of Mars.		''10. Find something of interest to you that is "recent", from one of the NASA or ESA missions within the last two years, or last two weeks! Describe what you found, and your interpretation of its importance relative to our understanding of Mars.''

	~~11. Given what you have seen here about the use of robotic spacecraft, do you think that spacefaring nations should plan for a long term human presence on Mars? Explain your reasoning.~~

WikiSysop: /* Something New */

2011-09-12T19:49:26Z

Something New

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 12 September 2011
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	[http://earth.google.com/mars/ Google Earth] on the lab computers or your laptop will link an interactive globe to the latest data. Otherwise you may use the NASA websites along with [http://www.google.com/mars www.google.com/mars] and the sidebar indices to explore the latest discoveries.		[http://earth.google.com/mars/ Google Earth] on the lab computers or your laptop will link an interactive globe to the latest data. Otherwise you may use the NASA websites along with [http://www.google.com/mars www.google.com/mars] and the sidebar indices to explore the latest discoveries.

			''9. Where is Gale Crater on Mars? Identify it with respect to larger features.''


	This part of the lab is open ended, and we will leave it to you to find something of interest now that you have the basics down. If you're lost in all the possibilities, try following the path of the Odyssey Rover from its starting point to its current location. Google Earth offers interactive access to panoramic views and links to data acquired and discussions along the way. Here's are links to a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6ARVLrsG4g short video] produced in 2009 describing the rover landings, and another video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIr03Cz-3zc&feature=related summarizing the science].		This part of the lab is open ended, and we will leave it to you to find something of interest now that you have the basics down. If you're lost in all the possibilities, try following the path of the Odyssey Rover from its starting point to its current location. Google Earth offers interactive access to panoramic views and links to data acquired and discussions along the way. Here's are links to a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6ARVLrsG4g short video] produced in 2009 describing the rover landings, and another video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIr03Cz-3zc&feature=related summarizing the science].