Guinness Mars Records!!!
On this day in 1971, an American space probe named Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.
It was monitoring our nearest neighbour in the solar system - Mars. In honour of this amazing achievement, here
are some ‘Red Planet’ records:
Clearest image of Mars from Earth
On 26 June 2001, The Hubble Space Telescope imaged the planet Mars while it was at its closest point to Earth since
1988 (68 million km, 43 million miles). The space telescope was able to discern surface details on Mars of just 16
km (10 miles) across.
Highest altitude Mars landing
NASA's (USA) Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity landed successfully at Meridiani Planum on Mars on 25 January 2004
at an altitude of -1.38 km (-0.85 miles) relative to the MOLA Geoid.
Highest clouds in the solar system
In August 2006 European scientists reported their discovery of faint clouds some 90-100 km (55-62 miles) above the
surface of Mars. Detected by an instrument on board ESA's Mars Express orbiter, the clouds are composed of
carbon dioxide ice crystals and their discovery may have implications for future missions to land on Mars.
Land speed record on Mars
The twin NASA Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, touched down on Mars on 4 and 25 January 2004. Each
is capable of a maximum velocity of 5 cm/second (1.9 in/second).
Largest dust storms
Mars is the only world other than Earth where dust storms have been observed. In 1971 and 2001 dust storms grew to
immense proportions, covering 100% of the of the planet and obscuring its surface from telescopes and spacecraft.
The exact causes are still unknown and such storms could present hazards to future expeditions to Mars.
Largest Martian Meteorite
The largest meteorite discovered on Earth to be from the planet Mars is the Zagami meteorite, which weighed around
18 kg (40 lb). It landed on 3 October 1962 in a field near Zagami, Nigeria, close to a farmer who discovered it in a 0.6 m-deep crater (2 ft)
13 November 2007