image from - https://mars.nasa.gov
Mars - the fourth farthest from the Sun planet in our solar system (semi-major axis of orbit a = 1.524 AU), the closest outer planet to Earth (minimum distance from the Earth is 0.37 AU, maximum - 2.67 AU)
Physical characteristics:
mass M=0.107 of Earth's mass,
radius R=3400 km (0.533 R of the Earth),
average density = 3.94 g/cc,
inclination of rotation axis = 24°48',
period of rotation P = 24h37m;
duration of solar day 24h39m.
The parameters of the orbit of Mars:
sideric period of orbit around the Sun T=1.880089 years,
eccentricity e=0.093,
inclination i=1°51',
average linear velocity of M. orbit Va=24.1 km/s,
Average synodic orbital period S=779.94 days.
The longitude of the ascending node at 1975.0. - 49.365°, the annual change in the longitude of the node +0.46'.
Longitude of the perihelion at 1975.0. - 335.599°, annual change in perihelion +1.10'.
Average velocity along the ecliptic is 31'27" per day; maximum velocity is 48.6' per day; duration of retrograde phase is 80 days; proportion of retrograde phase is 10% of Sun; average arc of retrograde motion is 15°. M. becomes retrograde when it is more than 145° from the Sun.The images of Mars. find traces of both impact meteoritic and volcanic activity, as well as traces of movement, uplift and cracking of the Martian crust and traces of many processes of destruction and smoothing of the surface relief, movement and deposition of sediment. The Martian mountains are characterized by multi-top, mostly smoothed forms. In addition, found typical volcanic cones with craters at the tops. The most interesting is a giant volcanic mountain.
credit - naidenow.ru
