Red Planet Day 2022: Why is it celebrated? Know its history, importance, facts and more

Red Planet Day is celebrated every year on November 28th. Mars, sometimes called the Red Planet, is the fourth planet in our solar system. There is hardly any air there, and the planet is a cold, sandy desert. Mars is a dynamic planet with signs of past much greater activity, seasons, polar ice caps, canyons, and extinct volcanoes.

History
As far back as recorded history goes, the red planet has had a special allure for humanity. Numerous stories and myths have been based on the red planet, which is also the focus of extensive scientific investigation at present.

Remembering the launch of Mariner 4, the first spacecraft to arrive on Mars, on November 28, 1964, is the inspiration for Red Planet Day, celebrated annually on November 28. After almost eight months of journey, on July 14, 1965, the spacecraft completed a fly-by of the red planet.

To facilitate planetary exploration and near scientific investigations of Mars, the Mariner 4 spacecraft was constructed to gather data during fly-bys and transmit that information back to Earth.

Here are some important facts about Mars, the Red Planet:

Around four billion years ago, Mars died:
Mars stopped being hospitable some four billion years ago, when its core ceased all activity, its magnetic field faded, and its autosphere was eroded by the soil wind.

Mars is the second best option for a permanent residence after Earth:
For a variety of reasons, including the fact that its soil contains water that may be extracted, Mars has long been considered the second most livable planet in the solar system, just after Earth. Neither too cold nor too hot, and most crucially, there is sufficient sunshine to fuel the solar system.

Is there oxygen on Mars?
Many different gaseous layers surround Mars' atmosphere. Water vapour, oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other noble gases may be found on the planet in minute quantities.

The tallest known mountain in the universe can be found there:
Located on Mars, Olympus Mons is the highest peak in the solar system. It may or may not be active.

Also, READ: Mystery solved! Here's how black holes produce most brilliant light in universe

The landmasses of Mars and Earth are similar:
Mars has just 15% of Earth's volume and just over 10% of Earth's mass, but because 2/3 of Earth's surface is covered in water and the surface gravity of Mars is only 37% of that of Earth, you could theoretically jump almost 3 times as far on Mars as you could on Earth.

Sunsets in blue:
On Earth, sunsets tend to be a multicolor blend of orange and yellow, but on Mars, the opposite is true: the night sky is blue and the day sky is pinkish-red.