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〔 0.533 Earths | polar_radius = 〔 0.531 Earths | mean_radius = 〔 | flattening = | surface_area = 0.284 Earths | volume = 〔 0.151 Earths | mass = 〔 0.107 Earths | density = 〔 | surface_grav = 〔 0.376 ''g'' | moment_of_inertia_factor = 〔 | escape_velocity = 5.027 km/s | sidereal_day = 〔 | rot_velocity = | axial_tilt = 25.19° to its orbital plane〔 | right_asc_north_pole = | declination = | albedo = 0.170 (geometric)〔 0.25 (Bond)〔 | magnitude = 〔 | angular_size = 3.5–25.1″〔 | temperatures = yes | temp_name1 = Kelvin | min_temp_1 = 130 K | mean_temp_1 = 210 K〔 | max_temp_1 = 308 K | temp_name2 = Celsius | min_temp_2 = −143 °C〔 | mean_temp_2 = −63 °C | max_temp_2 = 35 °C〔 | pronounced = | adjectives = Martian | atmosphere = yes | atmosphere_ref = 〔〔 | surface_pressure = 0.636 (0.4–0.87) kPa | atmosphere_density = | atmosphere_composition = }} Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System, after Mercury. Named after the Roman god of war, it is often referred to as the "Red Planet" because the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance.〔 Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth. The rotational period and seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar to those of Earth, as is the tilt that produces the seasons. Mars is the site of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano and second-highest known mountain in the Solar System, and of Valles Marineris, one of the largest canyons in the Solar System. The smooth Borealis basin in the northern hemisphere covers 40% of the planet and may be a giant impact feature.〔〔 Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are small and irregularly shaped. These may be captured asteroids,〔(【引用サイトリンク】author=Millis, John P. )〕 similar to 5261 Eureka, a Mars trojan. On 28 September 2015, NASA announced the presence of briny flowing salt water on the Martian surface.〔https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars/〕 Until the first successful Mars flyby in 1965 by ''Mariner 4'', many speculated about the presence of liquid water on the planet's surface. This was based on observed periodic variations in light and dark patches, particularly in the polar latitudes, which appeared to be seas and continents; long, dark striations were interpreted by some as irrigation channels for liquid water. These straight line features were later explained as optical illusions, though geological evidence gathered by uncrewed missions suggests that Mars once had large-scale water coverage on its surface at some earlier stage of its life.〔 In 2005, radar data revealed the presence of large quantities of water ice at the poles〔 and at mid-latitudes.〔〔 The Mars rover ''Spirit'' sampled chemical compounds containing water molecules in March 2007. The ''Phoenix'' lander directly sampled water ice in shallow Martian soil on July 31, 2008.〔 It is theorized by some scientists that life on Earth may have begun on Mars and was ferried to Earth via a Martian derived asteroid, due to the lack of certain adequate conditions present on Earth when life is believed to have evolved. 〔http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/aug/29/life-earth-originated-mars〕 Mars is host to seven functioning spacecraft: five in orbit—''2001 Mars Odyssey'', ''Mars Express'', ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'', MAVEN and Mars Orbiter Mission—and two on the surface—Mars Exploration Rover ''Opportunity'' and the Mars Science Laboratory ''Curiosity''. Observations by the ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' have revealed possible flowing water during the warmest months on Mars.〔 In 2013, NASA's ''Curiosity'' rover discovered that Mars's soil contains between 1.5% and 3% water by mass (albeit attached to other compounds and thus not freely accessible).〔 There are ongoing investigations assessing the past habitability potential of Mars, as well as the possibility of extant life. ''In situ'' investigations have been performed by the ''Viking'' landers, ''Spirit'' and ''Opportunity'' rovers, ''Phoenix'' lander, and ''Curiosity'' rover. Future astrobiology missions are planned, including the Mars 2020 and ExoMars rovers. Mars can easily be seen from Earth with the naked eye, as can its reddish coloring. Its apparent magnitude reaches −2.91,〔 which is surpassed only by Jupiter, Venus, the Moon, and the Sun. Optical ground-based telescopes are typically limited to resolving features about across when Earth and Mars are closest because of Earth's atmosphere.〔 == Physical characteristics == Mars is approximately half the diameter of Earth, and its surface area is only slightly less than the total area of Earth's dry land.〔 Mars is less dense than Earth, having about 15% of Earth's volume and 11% of Earth's mass. Although Mars is larger and more massive than Mercury, Mercury has a higher density. This results in the two planets having a nearly identical gravitational pull at the surface—that of Mars is stronger by less than 1%. The red-orange appearance of the Martian surface is caused by iron(III) oxide, more commonly known as hematite, or rust.〔 It can also look like butterscotch,〔 and other common surface colors include golden, brown, tan, and greenish, depending on the minerals present.〔(NASA – ''Mars in a Minute: Is Mars Really Red?'' ) ((Transcript ))〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mars」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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