How Long is a Martian Day?

The Martian day, or the time it takes Mars to rotate once on it's axis, is about a half an hour longer than an Earth day. Its year, or the time it takes to revolve once around the Sun, is about two Earth year long.<br /> <br /> Mars is a relatively small planet, about half the diameter of the Earth and about one-tenth of the Earth's mass. Because of the relative movements of the Earth and Mars around the Sun, Mars appears to move backwards in the sky for a short time when the two planets are closest.<center><img alt="Image of How Long is a Martian Day?" src="http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ITVglHrcKFE/U0J1H367_1I/AAAAAAABPHw/xUt_uITiq8I/s600/Alignment-450+%281%29.jpg" title="How Long is a Martian Day?" /></center><p style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 100); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 4px; color: black; font-size: 18px; font-style: bold; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-size:18px;color:green;text-shadow:1px 1px 1px #000;">The Red Planet</b></p>Mars is named after the Roman god of war because it appears fiery red in the Earth's night sky. The surface of Mars is covered by a stony desert that contains lots of iron oxide, giving it its rusty-red appearance.

Space How Long is a Martian Day?

The Martian day, or the time it takes Mars to rotate once on it's axis, is about a half an hour longer than an Earth day. Its year, or t...

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What is a Geostationary Satellite?

There are two types of weather satellites for long and short-term observations, which together give a complete picture of Earth's weather system. GOES or geostationary operational, environmental satellites remain in 36,000 km over the equator, giving detailed, constant and accurate information about the movement of storms, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and other severe weather patterns as quickly as possible, with the help of radar and other ground systems. POES, or polar, orbiting environmental satellites orbit much closer too the Earth's surface and offer visible infrared photos that measure moisture and temperature, tracking weather patterns and climate.<br /> <center><img alt="Image of GOES or geostationary operational, environmental satellites" src="http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8GPIY5qfJ0g/UvqGCMw1XxI/AAAAAAACFeE/w18am0mnTNU/s600/14%2B-%2B1" title="GOES or geostationary operational, environmental satellites" /></center>When the information from GOES and POES is combined it takes only six hours to provide a complete picture of weather conditions across the entire surface of the Earth.<p style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 100); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 4px; color: black; font-size: 18px; font-style: bold; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-size:18px;color:#00be98;text-shadow:1px 1px 1px #000;">Satellites for Navigation</b></p>Both sets of satellites also carry search and rescue transmission instruments so that pilots and mariners in distress can relay messages through them for help.

Space Technology What is a Geostationary Satellite?

There are two types of weather satellites for long and short-term observations, which together give a complete picture of Earth's weathe...

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