Why does the surface of Mars vary from dark to light seasonally?
Mars undergoes seasons because of its eccentric orbit that carries it to widely different distances from the Sun, and because of its axial tilt which is similar to the Earth's.
What caused the features on Mars?
It's possible that patterns of internal magma flow caused the difference, but some scientists think it's the result of Mars suffering one or several major impacts. One recent model suggests Mars got its two faces because an object the size of Earth's moon slammed into Mars near its south pole.
What causes the surface of Mars to change?
According to scientists, variations in the planet's albedo are generally attributed to changes in distribution of dust on the surface. Research indicates that as the dark areas on Mars expand and darken over time, its albedo decreases, and its surface air temperature rise.
What is the evidence that suggests the past and present existence of surface water on Mars quizlet?
(SA) What is the evidence that suggests the past and present existence of surface water on Mars? Runoff channels from old rivers and outflow channels from catastrophic flooding in the distant past.
What is the major reason why the seasons on Mars more extreme than those of the earth?
Its orbital motion is slowest when it is at aphelion (the farthest point from the Sun) and fastest at perihelion (the closest point to the Sun). This makes Martian seasons vary greatly in duration than those on Earth.
What are the dark lands features seen on Martian ice caps?
Jets of carbon dioxide gas erupting from the ice cap as it warms in the spring carry dark sand and dust high aloft. The dark material falls back to the surface, creating dark patches on the ice cap which have long puzzled scientists.
Who owns the planet Mars?
Mars belongs to everybody, according to the Outer Space Treaty, which the United States signed back in 1967. The treaty says nobody can own a celestial body.
What is Mars surface made of?
The dust that covers the surface of Mars is fine like talcum powder. Beneath the layer of dust, the Martian crust consists mostly of volcanic basalt rock. The soil of Mars also holds nutrients such as sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium.
How has water changed the surface of Mars?
Gullies and slope lineae along cliffs and crater walls suggest that flowing water continues to shape the surface of Mars, although to a far lesser degree than in the ancient past.
Which of these phenomena occurs on Mars?
Answer. Auroras occur on Mars, but they do not occur at the poles as on Earth, because Mars has no planetwide magnetic field. Rather, they occur near magnetic anomalies in Mars's crust, which are remnants from earlier days when Mars did have a magnetic field.
What evidence do we see on the surface of Mars that says Mars once had oceans and rivers?
Researchers have found a number of examples of deltas that formed in Martian lakes. Finding deltas is a major sign that Mars once had a lot of liquid water. Deltas usually require deep water over a long period of time to form. Also, the water level needs to be stable to keep sediment from washing away.
What evidence do we see on the surface of Mars that says Mars once had oceans and rivers quizlet?
What is the evidence that water once flowed on Mars? We see many signs of water erosion on Mars, including river channels, flood plains, and gullies running down the sides of craters. Recent analysis of surface rocks by rovers has also revealed chemical compounds that typically form in water-rich environments.
Why does the southern hemisphere of Mars experience more extreme seasons than the northern hemisphere?
That's different from Earth, because our planet has a near circular orbit. Winter in the southern hemisphere is worse, because Mars is the farthest away from the Sun and moves more slowly in its orbit. Going from a winter to warmer spring can be quite dramatic.
What causes seasons to change?
The earth's spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons. When the earth's axis points towards the sun, it is summer for that hemisphere. When the earth's axis points away, winter can be expected.
How do the ice caps change throughout the Martian year?
When spring returns, the CO2 ice cap sublimates — changes directly from a solid into a gas — as temperatures warm above –130° C (–202° F). Every year, about 25 percent of the Martian atmosphere cycles through these seasonal ice caps.
What is the likely cause of layering see in Martian polar sedimentary deposits?
The layering is believed to result from variations in the proportion of dust and ice, probably caused by changes in the tilt of the rotational axis (obliquity).
Can you legally own a planet?
No, people cannot legally buy planets, at least for now. There isn't any way to legally enforce a claim to a planet, and courts have rejected similar claims in the past. International law forbids countries from claiming any celestial body, meaning a nation cannot grant space real estate to its citizens.
Can you legally buy land on the moon?
Short answer: you can't. No one can. The relevant provision of the OST is Article II which states: “Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.”
Is Mars core hot?
This artist's concept of the interior of Mars shows a hot liquid core that is about one-half the radius of the planet. The core is mostly made of iron with some possible lighter elements such as sulfur. The mantle is the darker material between the core and the thin crust.
What forces affect Mars surface?
The two major tidal forces acting on Mars are the solar tide and Phobos tide.
Is water on Mars drinkable?
It's official. NASA scientists have found evidence of present-day liquid water on Mars. But before you start thinking about a second home there, know this: that water isn't drinkable. It's chock full of salts called perchlorates that can be toxic to humans.
Is Earth losing water?
Water flows endlessly between the ocean, atmosphere, and land. Earth's water is finite, meaning that the amount of water in, on, and above our planet does not increase or decrease.
Why does Mars sometimes look green?
Earth has abundant oxygen in its atmosphere. But on Mars it's largely present only as a breakdown product of carbon dioxide. Sunlight will free one of the oxygen atoms in CO2, and it's the transition of this atom that's glowing green on the Red Planet.
What is Martian soil made of?
The Mars rovers have used gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and laser spectrometry to determine the composition of martian soil. Mars regolith is mostly silicon dioxide and ferric oxide, with a fair amount of aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, and sulfur oxide.
What evidence suggests to most scientists that liquid water was once present on the Martian surface?
They found evidence that ancient hot springs once existed on the surface and sustained precipitation once fell in some areas. And they found patches of ice within some of the deeper craters. Impact craters offer a view of the interior of the red planet.
What evidence suggests that water might still flow at or beneath the Martian surface today?
New findings from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provide the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars. Using an imaging spectrometer on MRO, researchers detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where mysterious streaks are seen on the Red Planet.
What evidence suggests that water might still flow at or beneath the Martian surface today why do we think that Mars might still have subsurface liquid water today quizlet?
Why do we think that Mars might still have subsurface liquid water today? The first evidence suggesting that water might still flow is the existence of gullies on the crater walls. Signs of recent flowing water may suggest water springing up from underground before it evaporates.
What is the major reason why the seasons on Mars more extreme than those of the Earth?
Its orbital motion is slowest when it is at aphelion (the farthest point from the Sun) and fastest at perihelion (the closest point to the Sun). This makes Martian seasons vary greatly in duration than those on Earth.
How do Martian seasons differ from Earth seasons describe major seasonal changes that occur on Mars?
Mars has four seasons just like Earth, but they last about twice as long. That's because it takes about two Earth years for Mars to go around the sun. July 4, 2016 just happens to be the start of spring in the southern hemisphere on Mars, where Mars rovers Curiosity and Opportunity are exploring.
Which motion of the Earth causes changes in the season?
Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun's most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere.