Mars Activity

MarsMars Activity Activity

Names:Names: Ian MeccaIan Mecca and and Robert BellRobert Bell

Howenstine High School, Howenstine High School,

Mr. Martin, Mr. Martin,

99th Gradeth Grade,,

4/18/074/18/07

CratersCraters• Craters are generally formed by meteorites Craters are generally formed by meteorites striking the surface of a planet. The striking the surface of a planet. The majority of craters are circular in shape majority of craters are circular in shape and come in a variety of sizes.and come in a variety of sizes.

Mars Global Digital Image Mosaic

Lava FlowsLava Flows

• Lava flows are formed Lava flows are formed by the eruption of by the eruption of lava from the lava from the volcano. Lava flows volcano. Lava flows can look “wavy” and can look “wavy” and are somewhat uniform are somewhat uniform in the direction they in the direction they flow. You can often flow. You can often identify different identify different lava flows from lava flows from different volcanic different volcanic eruptions.eruptions.

Sand DunesSand Dunes

• Sand dunes can form Sand dunes can form in many different in many different areas on Mars. They areas on Mars. They are often seen in are often seen in the bottom of the bottom of craters or channels craters or channels or around the or around the poles. These poles. These features are features are generally darker generally darker then the nearby then the nearby terrain. Sand dunes terrain. Sand dunes can range in size can range in size and shape.and shape.

CanyonsCanyons• Identified by a steep drop Identified by a steep drop in elevation, similar to in elevation, similar to what we see with canyons on what we see with canyons on Earth.Earth.

• Canyon walls often show Canyon walls often show material that has fallen or material that has fallen or slid down slope. slid down slope.

• Top of canyon is generally Top of canyon is generally flat and smooth.flat and smooth.

LandslidesLandslides

Material that falls or slid down a steep slope

Landslide material that piles up at the bottom of slopes

Often seen on steep canyon walls

Spur and gully formations are landslides that look similar to gullies that can be seen on crater walls

The most interesting The most interesting results from the Part 1 results from the Part 1

Activity Activity (the ASU Activity)(the ASU Activity)

We found these results……We found these results……There is a large number of craters, lava There is a large number of craters, lava flows, valleys, sand dunes, and canyons on flows, valleys, sand dunes, and canyons on the surface of Mars.the surface of Mars.

We found these results by doing….We found these results by doing….Looking at the planet’s surface and Looking at the planet’s surface and comparing it to Earthcomparing it to Earth

We used these methods to get that result…..We used these methods to get that result…..We looked at images of the planets surface We looked at images of the planets surface and compared them to Earth’s surface.and compared them to Earth’s surface.

Results from the Part 2 Results from the Part 2 Activity (with the HiRise Activity (with the HiRise Data)Data)

Results from the Part 2 Results from the Part 2 Activity (with the HiRise Activity (with the HiRise

Data)Data) • We found these interesting results……We found these interesting results……They have many things in common• We found these results by doing….We found these results by doing….We looked at Earth’s Surface, then looked at Mar’s. We

compared them and found what they have in common.• We used these methods to get that result…..We used these methods to get that result…..Compare and Contrast• (or this is what we think happened to form (or this is what we think happened to form

this feature and why)this feature and why)Meteors hit the planet, creating these features. Also, aging

has cause some of these features, such as faults and fractures in the planet

More Results from the Part 2 Activity More Results from the Part 2 Activity (with the HiRise Data)(with the HiRise Data)

• Comparisons with other features on Mars Comparisons with other features on Mars and/or to features on the Earthand/or to features on the Earth

They both have a large amount of craters, volcanoes, valleys, canyons, faults and fractures

• Conclusions about comparing these Conclusions about comparing these features: what do you see similar or different, features: what do you see similar or different, how do you come to that conclusion & why.how do you come to that conclusion & why.

They have many similarities such as features (craters, volcanoes, ect.). In fact, there are more similarities with the two planets then there are differences.

Next StepsNext Steps• Would your region of Mars be a good place to land? Why? Why Would your region of Mars be a good place to land? Why? Why

not?not?Probably not, because there are too many craters, volcanoes, lava flows • What kind of features would you want to know more about if you What kind of features would you want to know more about if you

could choose a landing site? Why?could choose a landing site? Why?Valleys, fissures, chaotic terrain and canyons because if those are there

then you don’t want to land there because of the dangerous terrain. • What would your criteria be for selecting a landing site? Why?What would your criteria be for selecting a landing site? Why?I would check all sites that are possible to land on and use the safest one• For instance, there are science goals and engineering goals for For instance, there are science goals and engineering goals for

sending a mission like this to Mars. What would yours be and sending a mission like this to Mars. What would yours be and why?why?

To find water or any possibility that life used to be on the planet

Next Steps Continued…Next Steps Continued…• Based on what feature on Based on what feature on

Mars you would want to Mars you would want to study further, what would study further, what would your landing vehicle be your landing vehicle be like?like?

• I would study craters on I would study craters on the surface of Mars. I would the surface of Mars. I would probably use this vehicle probably use this vehicle

((You can use a picture You can use a picture of a vehicle or of a vehicle or launch device you launch device you would like to use. would like to use. Or imagine further Or imagine further with a picture of a with a picture of a colony you envision, colony you envision, etc.)etc.)