Mars is the fourth from the Sun and is commonly referred to as the Red Planet. The rocks, soil and sky have a red or pink hue. The distinct red color was observed by stargazers throughout history. It was named by the Greeks as Ares but the name that’s come down to us was given by the Romans in honour of their god of war. The ancient Egyptians named the planet Her Descher meaning the red one.
Currently there is more than one mission to Mars. Historically, the success rate of such missions to the red planet has not been good with about 50% failing. Interestingly, the USSR tried several times to get get probes there, but all failed.
The European Space Agency’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor missions are all ongoing and, of course, the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers have had their on-planet missions extended. Sojourner was the first rover landed on Mars in 1997.
Mars is seen as the one planet that might provide a somewhat comfortable habitat for human colonisation (perhaps with a long program of terraforming). The “canali” seen by astronomer Percival Lowell in the late 1800s turned out, unfortunately, to be a trick of perception rather than great irrigation works constructed by the red planet’s imagined inhabitants. NASA are planning to send a manned mission to Mars but that could be decades away.
Meanwhile, amateur astronomers can gaze at the planet through today’s increasingly better performing telescopes and produce images that the professionals would have envied only a couple of decades ago.
On this page you’ll see where Mars is in relation to Earth and what face it currently presents to us. There’s also all the recent news on the red planet and missions to Mars. Towards the bottom of the page are various observation and data resources, including a couple of comprehensive online books.
NASA’s Phoenix Spacecraft Lands on Mars (May 25, 2008)
| The Position of Mars | |||||
|
|||||
[phpbay](mars mission|mars rover|planet mars), 100, “1”, “”[/phpbay]
[phpbay]””, 100, “74927”, “”[/phpbay]
[phpbay]””, 100, “74922”, “”[/phpbay]
Planet Mars Videos:
[tubepress mode=”tag” tagValue=”planet mars astronomy”]
Amazon.com BestSellers
| [phpzon keywords=”planet mars” searchindex=”Books” num=”3″] |
| News About Mars & Missions To The Planet | |||||
| Other Astronomy News Resources | ||||||||
|
||||||||
| Mars Observing Resources | |||||
International Mars Watch A group founded by professional astronomers interested in Mars to facilitate better communication between the amateur and professional Mars observing communities.
A.L.P.O. Mars Section
Observing the Planet Mars
|
|||||
| Mars Data Resources | |||||
Mars Institute Informs the public on the results, progress, and benefits to humankind of Mars exploration through the development and implementation of educational and public outreach activities.
Mars Network
Mars (Nine Planets)
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment
Virtual Mars
Center for Mars Exploration NASA Mars Exploration Program
MOLA Images
|
|||||
| Special News Coverage of Mars | |||||
BBC: Exploring Mars Keep up to date with the BBC’s ongoing coverage of various Mars missions.
Mars Team Online |
|||||
| Mars Societies and Ventures | |||||
The Mars Society The Purpose of the Mars Society is to further the goal of the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. This is achieved by 1) Broad public outreach to instill the vision of pioneering Mars;. 2) Support of ever more aggressive government funded Mars exploration programs around the world; 3) Conducting Mars exploration on a private basis.
|
|||||
| Mars Missions | |||||
Mars Exploration Rover Mission NASA homepage for the ongoing missions of the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers.
Mars Pathfinder Homepage |
|||||
| Mars Missions | |||||
The “Face on Mars” This page will provide interested persons with both the raw Viking images, transformed to GIF format, and a brief tutorial (with examples) of image processing techniques applied to create “better looking” images.
International Committee Against Mars Sample Return |
|||||
Filed under: Mars
I remember that as a youth, that was my biggest dream was space travel in some fashion. I wanted to do three different missions: One just out into orbit, one to the moon, and one to mars. Of course, this was back when the talk was of having one mission to mars by 2004!
I guess that if I kept up with the excercise regime and school, this dream isn't necessarily that far out of reach in some fashion – but this would require there to be more interest in the whole concept which well…
A bold and visionary President. JFK. It a shame that Obama has not followed his example ! Where is his stand agaist the GOP ! Instead of caving to them over and over again ! Where is the announcement of a manned mission to Mars before 2021 ! NASA is more able to do so now than in 1961 ! Be daring and bold President Obama !! That is why you were put in office by the american people ! Where is the change we can believe in ?!!!