What is Earth? The Third Rock from the Sun
Earth, the third planet from the sun is the only known celestial entity in our universe that has been able to sustain life. Even though we are still looking in other places, Earth remains to be unique.
Here are main Facts of Earth:
Radius of Earth: The radius of Earth spans 3,959 miles.
Number of Species found on Earth: Home to 7.6 billion humans and countless species of animals, insects, plants, and microorganisms alike.
Earth Formation: There is an on-going debate on how the Earth was formed, but it is a fact that the Earth formed 4 billion years ago.
Moon: The Earth is the only planet that only has a single moon orbiting it. Earth has interaction with its moon and with the Sun. Earth orbits around the sun, while the moon orbits around the Earth, like a natural satellite.
Axis: The Earth is tilled on its axis of rotation, this is what causes the ever-changing seasons experienced on this planet. Tides on the earth and moon are caused by gravitational interactions. These are the same interactions that make compasses point north.
Water: It is common knowledge that our planet is mainly water. In fact, Earth is about 76 percent water. The lakes, oceans, river, and other bodies of water that make up that percentage are referred to as the hydrosphere. Continents and Islands make up the remainder of 26 percent.
What is Mars? The Red Planet
Size of Mars: the second smallest planet in our solar system.
Terrain: Its terrain is cold and dry.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere of Mars is very thin, which scientists explain with solar wind activity over time. Mars is “primarily composed of Carbon Dioxide” with Argon and Nitrogen in much smaller amounts.
Life on Mars: The search for life on Mars is stronger than ever. Scientists really want to know whether or not there is, or ever has been life sustained on Mars.
Water on Mars: In 2015, evidence was found that suggests there was once water on the desert planet. Scarring in the planet’s surface resemble scarring found on earth, resulting from liquid water. There are 100-meter-long streaks that “appear in several locations on Mars when temperatures are above minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit” (NASA, 2015).
Red Planet: Mars is sometimes referred to as the Red Planet because of the large amount of Iron oxide on the planet that give it a red hue.
Volcano: Mars is also home to the largest volcano in our entire solar system, Olympus Mons, which is also the second largest mountain in the solar system.
Moon: Unlike Earth, Mars has two moons, Phebos and Deimos. The moons are irregularly shaped and small compared to our moon. It is believed that the two moons are just asteroids that were captured in the orbit of Mars.
Similarities between Earth and Mars: Length of day
The length of a day on Mars and the length of a day on Earth are not very far apart. On Mars, one day is 24 hours and 37 minutes. On Earth, the length of a day is 23 hours and 56 minutes.
Similarities between Earth and Mars:
It is also true that some of the landforms of Earth and Mars are quite similar. Scientist use places on Earth that are similar to places on Mars. For example, Iceland has basalt rock resemble rocks from Mars. Antarctica is similar because it is cold and dry. Arizona and Alaska have basaltic volcanoes resembling those found on Mars.
Similarities between Earth and Mars: similar terrain and composition
Another fact to link the two planets is that Earth and Mars are both terrestrial planets, meaning that they share a rocky terrain. Mars also has four distinct seasons.
Main Summary points on similarities between Earth and Mars
To summarize, Earth and Mars are two planets in this solar system that a lot is known about. Research has found that they have a lot in common and we continue learning to what extent more and more each day. Scientists now know that Mars and a cold, dry desert that may have once had liquid water. The more the we learn about ourselves, the more we can learn about the universe around us. To many, Mars is just a distant, unknown place. But, Earth and Mars are not all that different. In fact, the two planets are more alike than they are different. Even though we do not have proof that life has existed on Mars, efforts are being made to see if it could be possible for future life to inhabit. Missions are being planned to “scope out” the planet and determine if Mars could one day become home for humans.
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