Astronomy Stack Exchange
Astronomy Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [mars]

Questions regarding Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun.

239 questions
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Why is Mars considered the outer edge of the "goldilocks zone"?

In both books and documentaries I often see the Goldilocks Zone as described between Venus and Mars with the Earth "just right." This seems sort of ill thought out to me, because it assumes that Venus' atmosphere comes from its distance from the sun…
simontemplar
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Why is ice on Mars not covered in dust?

There's exposed water ice on Mars, like in craters like this At the same time, Mars has dust storm, covering the solar panels of rovers, and occasionally covering the entire planet So why is this ice not covered in dust? I understand that dry carbon…
SE - stop firing the good guys
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How did the Mars satellites "take cover" from the recent comet flyby?

After comet Sliding Spring's Oct. 19, 2014 close flyby of Mars, NASA reports that All three NASA orbiters around Mars confirmed their healthy status Sunday after each took shelter behind Mars during a period of risk from dust [from the comet's…
NeutronStar
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Are Tharsis Montes and Hellas Basin a result of the same event?

Looking at Mars map: the highest, biggest mountains and their associated highlands are essentially antipodes of the deepest, huge basin. Roughly 180 degrees away, similar latitude except opposite sides of equator... this immediately brings to mind…
SF.
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If the Mars polar caps were melted, how deep would the oceans be?

If the Martian polar ice caps melted, given a surface temperature and pressure that allow for liquid water, how large would the oceans be? Would they match their ancient glory, or would they be smaller?
GoingFTL
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Is there permanent dry ice on Mars?

Are there any places featuring permanent dry ice (carbon dioxide ice) on Mars? Is there dry ice at the poles?
Joe Jobs
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Why does Hellas Basin look white on some maps?

One map of Mars I see a lot is this colourized map: the Viking colourized global mosaic (Source): But one thing which strikes me as odd is just how white the Hellas Basin is (the white patch which is not on the poles, just in the middle of the…
Nikolaj
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Why is Mars' atmosphere so thin?

Is it because there isn't life to exhale enough oxygen and carbon dioxide? The size of Mars is about the same as Earth, so isn't there enough gravity to hold enough air?
ashpool
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What are these dark spots on Mars' north pole?

I was exploring Mars in Google maps and I found these dark spots, like tree shadows on the north pole. I don't have any idea what they might be. View this in Google maps.
Mostafa Roghanian
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What is the temperature about 10 or 15 feet below Mars' surface?

I was wondering this for a school paper I'm writing.
phineas.garther
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Mars and 115 mm - which eyepieces?

Today I could roughly see Saturn with ring structure for the first time with my Seben 114-1000 telescope. Then later I was dealing with Mars and found out that I must do something wrong, as with no eyepiece I could really see this planet closer. So,…
J. Doe
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"Esperance" rock on Mars formed by erosion or weathering? or is there any rock on Mars not formed by erosion?

I was wondering if the "Esperance" rock that was found on Mars by the Opportunity rover was formed due erosion or weathering? I have been reading a lot online but I did not seem to find anything. Does anyone know a type of rock on Mars that was not…
Hidaw
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How to calculate when Mars was in retrograde around 129 BCE?

I am trying to make an accurate illustration of the sky from when Ptolemy was observing the planets in Greece. I am trying to find out when Mars was in retrograde during those years. I have read both SE questions and answer about how to calculate…
Joshua Dance
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Is it plausible that Mars could have been one of Jupiter's natural satellites at one time?

Would more questions regarding the planet be answered if this was the case?
user5434678
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Could ancient tectonic activity on Mars be due to it having oceans of sulphuric acid?

Could Mars' ancient tectonic activity have ceased due to its oceans having been composed of sulphuric acid, which warmed up and evaporated due to the Theia event as ice chunks landed on its surface? Strongly conductive liquid sulphuric acid on early…
Straightornot
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