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Mars
This tiny sphere is the planet Mars at one 10-billionth actual size. Its small moons can't be seen at this scale.
If Mars were this big, how far away would the Sun and other planets be? Look at the map on the lower panel to find your position in the solar system.
Voyage to Mars
It seems almost Earth-like here, like a desolate spot in a desert. But the air is far thinner than atop Earth's highest mountains and mostly carbon dioxide. In the summer, near the Martian equator, the temperature typically reaches 60°F (17°C). But at night it falls to a chilling -130°F (-90°C).
Earth Invades Mars!
Near the northern wall of Gale Crater, NASA's Curiosity rover readies to drill into rock for the first time on another planet (see image at left). In the distance is 3.4 mile (5.5 km) high Mount Sharp, Curiosity's destination at the crater's center. Many more robotic spacecraft will journey to Mars. One day, will humans follow?
Life on Mars?
Long ago Mars was warm and wet, but its channels, tributaries, and flood plains are now dry.
On Earth, water is a key ingredient for life, so perhaps life once existed on Mars as well. Deep in the Martian soil, shielded from the Sun's harmful rays, life may still exist.
Walk to Asteroids and Comets about 28 steps
Imagine
Exploring the surface of Mars is comparable to exploring all the continents of Earth.
Walk to Earth about 12 steps
In the real solar system, the planets would never line up as they orbit the Sun.
Voyage is an exhibition of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and the Smithsonian Institution. It is designed for permanent installation in communities worldwide.
http://voyagesolarsystem.org |