could be..
Physical characteristics
The fiery appearance of Mars is caused by iron(III) oxide (rust) on its surface.[1] Mars has half the radius of the Earth and only one-tenth the mass, being less dense, but its surface area is only slightly less than the total area of Earth's dry land.[2]
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Atmosphere
Main article: Atmosphere of Mars
The atmosphere of Mars is relatively thin; the atmospheric pressure on the surface is only 0.7–0.9 kPa, compared to Earth's 101.3 kPa. The scale height of the atmosphere is about 11 km, somewhat higher than Earth's 6 km. The atmosphere on Mars consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and contains traces of oxygen and water.[2] The atmosphere is quite dusty, giving the Martian sky a tawny color when seen from the surface; with dust particles about 1.5 µm across.[3]
Mars from Hubble Space Telescope October 28, 2005 with sandstorm visible.
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Mars from Hubble Space Telescope October 28, 2005 with sandstorm visible.
Methane exists in the Martian atmosphere with a concentration of about 10 ppb by volume.[4] Methane is an unstable gas that is broken down by ultraviolet radiation, typically lasting in the atmosphere for about 340 years.[5] , and its possible presence on Mars could indicate that there is (or has been within the last few hundred years) a source of the gas on the planet. Volcanic activity, comet impacts, and the existence of life in the form of microorganisms such as methanogens are among possible sources. It was recently shown that methane could also be produced by a non-biological process involving water, carbon dioxide, and the mineral olivine, which is known to be common on Mars.[6]
In the winter months when the poles are in continuous darkness, the surface gets so cold that as much as 25–30% of the entire atmosphere condenses out into thick slabs of CO2 ice (dry ice).[7]
When the poles are again exposed to sunlight the CO2 ice sublimates, creating enormous winds that sweep off the poles as fast as 250 mph (400 km/h). These seasonal actions transport large amounts of dust and water vapor, giving rise to Earth-like frost and large cirrus clouds. Clouds of water-ice were photographed by the Opportunity rover in 2004.[8]
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Climate
Mars has seasons, which of all of the planets are the most Earth-like due to the similar tilts in their rotational axes. However, the length of its seasons are about twice that of Earth's, as its increased distance from the sun leads to the Martian year being approximately two earth years in length. Martian temperatures reach from lows of –140 °C (−220 °F) to highs of 20 °C (68 °F).[9] Recent evidence has suggested that Mars may be warming in the short term.[10] It appears, however, that this may be unrelated to global warming on Earth.[11]
Mars also has the largest dust storms in the solar system. These can vary from a storm over a small area, to gigantic storms that cover the entire planet. They tend to occur when Mars is closest to the sun, which increases the global temperature.[12]
2006-08-09 04:30:16
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Chances of anything coming from Mars, are a million to one, he said...Wait, no, that's War of the Worlds!
The chances are probably much worse than a million to one. Mars is a very hostile place; Very cold, what passes for atmosphere would be a pretty good vacuum here on Earth, and it's dry, bone dry. It gets nastier, the latest data suggests that even the soil could be full of Hydrogen Peroxides, which are pretty good bug-killers!
But whilst the chances are small, they are not zero, which is why NASA and ESA are investing so much in trying to find out. Mars was once warmer and wetter, so life could have got a toe-hold. And we are finding out more and more about how life clings on in extreme conditions on Earth; in Deep Oceans, in Polar ice, even inside rocks, so there is a school of thought that suggests microbial life could still be found on Mars. So far there has been a lot of tantalisingly ambiguous data. The next generation of probes will be packed full of sophisticated equipment to investigate further.
It is an important issue to resolve; if life has arisen twice in one solar system, that implies it could be common throughout the cosmos. At the moment, we just don't know. We could be all alone.
2006-08-09 04:38:09
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answer #2
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answered by Avondrow 7
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It is thought that Mars once had a similar atmosphere and climate to Earth, when the Solar System was much younger and Earth remained uninhabitable. As the Solar System cooled Mars lost its more dense atmosphere and if any water was present on the planet this would have been lost into space.
It is possible that life once exsisted on Mars but this is only likely to have been in microscopic form, and long since extinct.
2006-08-10 01:23:58
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answer #3
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answered by angelz 1
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I think that the Viking probe found life on Mars in 1976.
Some crazy theories were proposed to dismiss the evidence from the labeled release experiment, such as a super-oxide that has never been found.
I hope that an American probe finds microbes, because the Americans deserve credit for discovering life in 1976.
2006-08-09 12:18:04
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answer #4
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answered by Mai Tai Mike 3
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Yes, there is indeed the possibility of finding life on mars...
Secondly, you may have solved the puzzle as to why Muslims
behave as the do...
They are alien hybrids and are trying to kill all humans and take
over the world...
2006-08-09 04:50:36
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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If life exists on mars it will be microscopic in nature, possibly like bacteria. The up coming Exomars expedition will be looking for this sort of thing when it launches. Nothing human sized I'm afraid, Europa looks more promising for large multicellular organisms.
2006-08-09 04:38:01
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answer #6
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answered by Red P 4
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there may be life on mars, but I think the fact that they want to replace the human race is a bit too sci-fi to me. the rovers on mars found evidence of water, so I think that it's very possible. they also found evidence of bacterial lifeforms on mars. if anything microscopic can live there, aliens are a real possibility!
2006-08-09 06:01:45
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answer #7
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answered by dodo 1
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i think total recall could be quite near the truth i think mars did once support life. who`s to say that we are not alien to earth.
2006-08-09 04:47:06
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answer #8
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answered by chopps . 3
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Jade Goody is an alien. She comes from the planet Slap!
2006-08-09 04:31:14
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answer #9
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answered by Les-Paul 3
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If you leave one unwrapped for about a week....I'm sure it will attracted a lot of flies. So yeah...you can find life on Mars!
2006-08-09 04:47:05
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answer #10
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answered by peebles 2
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