Who Discovered Mars - Facts About the Red Planet Mars

Who Discovered Mars

A burning question posed from some of our readers recently has been 'who discovered Mars', the red planet. The ancient Egyptians labeled the planet, 'Har Deucher' (translated as 'The Red One') and the Babylonians in around 400 BC recalled the planet as 'Nergal' (translated as 'The Star of Death'). Following this period, the Greeks named it 'Ares' (which actually means in today's terms, 'wandering star'), and it was not until the Romans rein that the modern reference to the planet, 'Mars' was introduced (after the God of War).

Mars the Red planet is the 4th planet from the sun, only after earth and before Uranus. Mars is the Earth's outer neighbor and Mars has proven to be a good context for many films in recent years, with many representing Mars as a source of exotic and occasionally lethal life forms. Mars is also recognized as the red planet on account of the iron based dust giving the planet it's red colour. The Mars Pathfinder rover touched down on the planet on July 4th, 1997, bearing a mobile robot that examined the immediate locality.

More recently in 2001, Mars Odyssey which is an orbital craft bearing science experiments intended to make comprehensive observations of Mars to better our knowledge of the planet's atmosphere and geological past, obtained significant data to assist scientists in their objectives to learn more about this strange planet. Recently it has been disclosed that experts believe there is in fact water beneath the surface of Mars contained in underground reserves but given the surface temperatures of between -133 C to 27 C any water deposits which may find themselves escaping to the surface would not be identifiable for any length of time.

Mars turns on its axis once every 24 hours and 37 minutes, meaning its daytime is approximately the equivalent to Earth's. The atmosphere is very thin and composed principally of carbon dioxide, however dust storms can shroud the entire planet for months at a time. Also visible from recent photographs, the planet Mars also has huge canyons, sand banks, polar ice summits and additional characteristics akin to those located on Earth.

The Red Planet is not a quick trip away however, being some 228 million kilometres at a distance from the sun which is just as well, given it is believed that the severe surface conditions and intense solar radiation which saturates the surface is not capable of maintaining any form of human existence. In summary therefore in response to your 'who discovered mars' question, as far as we currently know, (in the absence of other 'we's' in the universe) 'we' discovered it....

Who Discovered Mars

Who discovered Mars

Who discovered Mars

No other planet has mystified humans more than Mars. Earthlings have not set foot on it yet but stories about it have been told, published, and even inspired movies. It was named after the Roman god of war ‘Ares’, probably years after it was first sighted by a human eye. Who did and when it happened are questions that will not get any answer since it was seen before recorded history. It was first seen during ancient times and the person who should receive credit is unknown. It is Earth’s next-door neighbor, so it can be seen in a cloudless sky even without the use of a telescope. Prehistoric people may have regarded it as an omen or a god that affects their crops harvest or the coming of rain. They saw it but have not really considered that it is almost similar to the planet they were standing on, but just million miles away. They did not know how it will tickle the modern human fancy later on.

The Babylonians of Egypt could have first sighted the planet. Possibly because of its fierce red color, mainly caused by the abundance of iron oxide on its surface, it was called ‘Nergal’ which means ‘The Star of Death’. Mars was also associated to the Babylonian deity Marduk, who was a great ancient warrior. The Egyptians have called it different names, including ‘Her Deschel’ which means ‘The Red One’.

During modern times, Mars position was amazingly assumed by calculations made by Tycho Brahe. He is a Danish astronomer and alchemist known for his precise and elaborate astronomical observations. In 1576, he accurately calculated the position of Mars. Surprisingly, he did it without the use of a telescope. The result of his study was used afterwards by Johannes Kepler, the German astronomer and mathematician who designed the Law of Planetary Motion. By studying the axis and motion of Mars, he learned that Mars orbit around the Sun in an elliptical path, which is contrary to what they knew beforehand (that each planet’s orbit is a circle). The new idea brought by Kepler, lead to the discovery that all planetary orbits are elliptical.. In 1609, Galileo Galilei used the telescope for the first time to observe Mars. Its history continued. Canals, canyons and other formations that can also be seen on Earth were found to be present in Mars. Ice was discovered on its poles, and it meant water may also be flowing somewhere in the planet. Further on, life is thought to exist or have existed in the planet.

In a nutshell, Mars was not discovered. It was a regular visitor of the wide sky, bright and red as it is. Thus, anyone from primitive times could have seen it. Who knows, the first people on Earth could have. It could have frightened ancient people because of its color. It may have signaled the coming of war as an omen to an old tribe. It surely has puzzled sky gazers until science explained what it really is.

Who discovered Mars