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Tecnolgico de Monterrey Campus Guadalajara Alejandro Cervantes A01226369 AVE Group 30 Allison Whitehouse September 3, 2012 Mars, the Red Planet

Mars, the fourth planet closer to the sun, has a rocky and reddish outer layer. One of the smallest planets in the solar system, and the second nearest planet to the Earth, after Venus, is the next planned step for the human raze. At the beginning of its studies, scientists believed that it was very similar to the Earth; after years of research, they found out that they were very unlikely planets. This little planet has created a huge controversy all around the world; the question: Is there life on Mars? Wanders in the minds of millions. The Solar System consists of a Sun and 8 planets. Mars is the fourth one closest to the Sun, right next of the Earth. Its existence has been known for centuries; and, since the early intrigue of the men to know what is surrounding us, the studies of the planets begun. For a long time, men have wondered if we are all alone in this Universe, or if there is life in other planets. Whit this question, men have developed lots of theories; like if there are highly advanced extraterrestrial creatures in the different planets in the Solar System, and all around the universe. However, there are also scientists that state that there is no life in another part of the Solar System, rather than the Earth. Thanks to the advances in technology, the studies of Mars and the other planets of the Solar System have become easier and more accurate. The statistics of Mars according to the Views of the Solar System (Hamilton J. C., 1995), The average recorded temperature

on Mars is -63 C (-81 F) with a maximum temperature of 20 C (68 F) and a minimum of -140 C (-220 F); the mass is equal to 6.421e+23; the equatorial radius is 3,397.2 km.; a year in Mars consist of 686.98 days, and a day of 24.6229 hours; and the atmosphere pressure is 0.007 bars. (Paragraph 10-12) Also, according to the Disable World (Anonymous, 2009), Mars has two moons: Phobos and Deimos. Both moons orbit very close to the planet and are thought to be captured asteroids. Phobos and Deimos, are named after the two Hell Dogs that pull the Roman god Mar's war chariot(Paragraph 14). And the Astronomy Today (Astronomy Today Staff, N/D), says, The highest known surface point on Mars is a huge volcano known as 'Olympus Mons'. It stretches 24 km high above the lava plains around it and it has a base measuring 600 km (Paragraph 3). The Red Planet has had visits of spacecraft since 1965, and its studies go further back. So it is just a matter of time for men to visit it; and we will finally know the answer of the initial question.

References 1. Hamilton C. J. (1995). Mars Introduction. Retrieved from http://www.solarviews.com/eng/mars.htm 2. Anonymous (2009, January 21). Planet Mars Facts and Information. Retrieved from http://www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/hobby/astronomy/mars.php# 3. Astronomy Today Staff (2012). Mars, the red planet. Retrieved from http://www.astronomytoday.com/astronomy/mars.html#top