Book contents
- The Atlas of Mars
- Additional material
- The Atlas of Mars
- Copyright page
- Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- How to Use this Atlas
- Sources of Images
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 History of Exploration of Mars
- Chapter 3 Global Character of Mars
- Chapter 4 Regional Geographic Features and Surface Views of Mars
- Chapter 5 Geology of Mars
- Map Sheets
- Appendix
- Gazetteer
- References
- Index
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 August 2019
- The Atlas of Mars
- Additional material
- The Atlas of Mars
- Copyright page
- Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- How to Use this Atlas
- Sources of Images
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 History of Exploration of Mars
- Chapter 3 Global Character of Mars
- Chapter 4 Regional Geographic Features and Surface Views of Mars
- Chapter 5 Geology of Mars
- Map Sheets
- Appendix
- Gazetteer
- References
- Index
Summary
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the outermost of the rocky, terrestrial planets that make up the inner solar system. Mars is the second smallest planet; only Mercury is smaller. Surface gravity on Mars is 3.71 m s–2, which is 37.6% that of the Earth. The present atmospheric pressure is low (~0.6 kPa) relative to Earth’s (101 kPa), and the atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide (95%). The obliquity of Mars (tilt of the axis of rotation relative to the plane of orbit) is presently 25 degrees and may have varied by tens of degrees over the past tens of millions of years and longer (Laskar et al., 2004).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Atlas of MarsMapping its Geography and Geology, pp. 1 - 3Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019