Mars in Short: Past and Present Geology and Climate - Chapter 2

Kurzfassung

Mars is easily observed in the sky due to its reddish colour and has therefore been the target of inspiration since the early history of mankind. It is the second smallest planet in the Solar System (diameter: ca. 6790 km), and the fourth and farthest terrestrial planet from the Sun (230 million km). Mars differs from Earth regarding several parameters (Table 2.1). Mars has been exposed to dramatic geological processes throughout its history. Today, the surface of Mars is characterized by extreme contrasts, such as the Martian dichotomy between the northern and the southern hemisphere, huge canyons, and some of the highest volcanoes in the Solar system (Fig. 2.1). The first map of the surface of Mars was drawn in 1840 by Johann Heinrich von Mädler. Since then, many improvements have been made, based on data from space missions to Mars. Now Mars has become the target of what may become one of mankind’s most advanced technical and scientific endeavours: the first human mission to another planet in the Solar System. Knowledge about its present and past geology and environment is crucial for this endeavour and our understanding of how Mars was formed, how it developed throughout time, whether a form of life has ever existed on Mars.