... system, and is located on a large elevated plain on Mars, called the Tharsis shield ... Unlike the Earth, evidently Mars was not tectonically active, and geologic hot spots ...
... Earth is closer to the Sun than Mars, so we go around the Sun faster than Mars does. ... If the Sun were between the Earth and Mars, then Mars would appear to be very near the Sun and quite invisible against the ...
... Earth (planet, atmosphere, meteors, etc.) . The Moon . Mars . Asteroids . Jupiter . ... How Big is the Moon? . Prospector to the Moon . Mars at Opposition . Mesa Me! ... Mesa Me! . Mars Global Surveyor Arrive . Pathfinder Lands on Mars! ...
... Mars' orbit is roughly a circle, about one and a half times the diameter of Earth's ... on the opposite side of the Sun from Mars, and Mars will be as far away as possible ...
... Mars's orbit is an ellipse, more stretched out than the Earth's. The reason this pass is so good is because Mars happens to be near the closest point in its orbit around the Sun, and we are near our farthest point. ...
... Conclusions . Links of Interest . NASA's Mars missions (has links to Odyssey, the rovers, Mars Express, MGS and others). Spirit and Opportunity . ...
... Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again. ...