Checking out Mars

NASA scientists are working hard to learn all about planet Mars. In 2001, they launched the spacecraft Odyssey. Odyssey is a science orbiter. It circles Mars and relays information back to scientists.

The orbiter also relays information from Spirit and Opportunity, the two rovers on Mars.

One day, humans will travel to Mars. First we must learn how to live on Mars.

NASA has some fun ways for you to learn about Mars. If you would like to play some online games, go to http://mars10.jpl.nasa.gov/funzone_flash.html

To build an easy model of Mars Odyssey, go to http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/models/Odyssey_Color.pdf

If you would like to learn more about Odyssey, go to http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/

Photo courtesy NASA.

Mars on the Move

Don't you just love looking at the night sky?

The red star is really the planet Mars. It can be seen early at night in the east. In late January, Mars came very close to earth. It will not get this close again until 2014.

Yesterday was a very special day for planet Mars. Since December of last year, Mars has been moving east to west. It is called a retrograde motion.

Today the planet starts to move west to east. It will get more and more dim over the next few months.

You can have fun learning more about Mars by building a puzzle. Just go to
\http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/Solar_System_Puzzle_Kit.pdf

Photo courtesy NASA.