Mars Activity

1. Mars Activity Names:Ian Mecca and Robert Bell Howenstine High School, Mr. Martin, 9th Grade, 4/18/07

2. Craters • Craters are generally formed by meteorites striking the surface of a planet. The majority of craters are circular in shape and come in a variety of sizes. Mars Global Digital Image Mosaic

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

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

5. Canyons • Identified by a steep drop in elevation, similar to what we see with canyons on Earth. • Canyon walls often show material that has fallen or slid down slope. • Top of canyon is generally flat and smooth.

6. Landslides 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

7. The most interesting results from the Part 1 Activity (the ASU Activity) We found these results…… There is a large number of craters, lava flows, valleys, sand dunes, and canyons on the surface of Mars. We found these results by doing…. Looking at the planet’s surface and comparing it to Earth We used these methods to get that result….. We looked at images of the planets surface and compared them to Earth’s surface.

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

9. Results from the Part 2 Activity (with the HiRise Data) • We found these interesting results…… They have many things in common • 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….. Compare and Contrast • (or this is what we think happened to form 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

10. More Results from the Part 2 Activity (with the HiRise Data) • Comparisons with other features on Mars and/or to features on the Earth They both have a large amount of craters, volcanoes, valleys, canyons, faults and fractures • Conclusions about comparing these features: what do you see similar or different, 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.

11. Next Steps • Would your region of Mars be a good place to land? Why? Why 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 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? 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 sending a mission like this to Mars. What would yours be and why? To find water or any possibility that life used to be on the planet

12. Next Steps Continued… • Based on what feature on Mars you would want to study further, what would your landing vehicle be like? • I would study craters on the surface of Mars. I would probably use this vehicle (You can use a picture of a vehicle or launch device you would like to use. Or imagine further with a picture of a colony you envision, etc.)