Mars System

Mars structure (Very Large File: 29.5 MB): The two images above show the overall structure of Mars with its moons. The upper one shows the magnetosphere, while the lower one shows the crustal magnetic structure and moon orbits more clearly..

Overall 

Our Mars visualization is scientifically accurate and comprehensive. It shows detailed layers representing Mars's inner core, outer core, mantle, crust, lower atmosphere, upper atmosphere, magnetosphere (induced), and Hill sphere. The implementation includes educational descriptions and appropriate scaling for each component.

Inner Core

The representation of Mars's inner core is scientifically accurate, with a radius fraction of 0.5 (extending to 50% of Mars's radius). The description correctly notes it's a solid core primarily composed of iron and nickel, based on InSight lander seismic data. The explanation of temperature gradients, pressure effects, and compositional differences driving the solid/liquid differentiation is current with recent research.

Outer Core

The outer core visualization is accurate with a radius fraction of 0.8 (50-80% of Mars's radius). Your description correctly explains it's a liquid outer core containing lighter elements like sulfur, oxygen, or hydrogen that lower the melting point. The discussion of Mars's lack of a strong global dynamo and its implications for the absence of a global magnetic field is scientifically sound.

Mantle

The mantle representation (radius fraction 0.98) is accurate, correctly describing it as a silicate mantle similar to Earth's, composed of rocks rich in silicon, oxygen, iron, and magnesium. Your note about different regions within the mantle based on mineral phase transitions is scientifically appropriate, though less well-defined than Earth's due to Mars's smaller size and different internal pressures.

Crust

The Mars crust visualization is scientifically accurate and well-implemented. The description correctly notes that recent marsquake findings suggest the Martian crust is significantly thicker than Earth's (averaging around 70 km), and includes information about localized magnetic fields embedded in certain crustal regions, particularly in the ancient southern highlands.

Atmosphere

The lower atmosphere description (radius fraction 1.02) is accurate, correctly stating Mars has a thin atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide (95%) with small amounts of nitrogen and argon. The atmospheric layer descriptions (troposphere 0-40-50 km, mesosphere 50-100 km, thermosphere 100-200 km) are consistent with current understanding.

The upper atmosphere visualization (radius fraction 1.06) accurately describes the exosphere starting around 200 km and the interaction with solar wind. The explanation of how the lack of a global magnetosphere allows direct solar wind exposure, contributing to atmospheric stripping, is scientifically correct and important for understanding Mars's evolution.

Magnetosphere

The Mars magnetosphere visualization is scientifically accurate. The description correctly distinguishes Mars's situation from Earth's:

• Induced Magnetosphere: Correctly described as much weaker and closer (1-2 Mars radii sunward)

• Bow Shock: Accurately placed at about 1.5 Mars radii

• Crustal Magnetic Fields: Excellent implementation of localized "mini-magnetospheres" from ancient crustal magnetization, particularly in the southern hemisphere

The visualization parameters (sunward distance 1.5 radii, tail length 10 radii) are consistent with MAVEN and Mars Express observations.

Hill Sphere

The Hill sphere visualization uses a radius fraction of 324.5 Mars radii (about 1.1 million km), which is scientifically accurate and consistent with accepted values. The description correctly explains how Mars's two moons orbit well within this sphere.

• Plot of the Mars system (35 KB)

  • Plot of the Mars system, animated 31 days (66 KB)

Note on the idealized orbits for Phobos and Deimos:

Key Validation Points

Since you're already using the correct orbital elements:

1. Your 25.19° Transformation is Theoretically Sound

• Mars axial tilt: 25.19° (from multiple JPL sources)

• Your empirical discovery: 25.19° Y-axis rotation

• Physical interpretation: Converts from Mars-equatorial to ecliptic reference frame

2. Consistent Coordinate System Available

Now that you have both Phobos and Deimos with Sun-centered coordinates, you can:

• Direct comparison: Both satellites in the same reference frame

• Validation test: Compare your idealized orbits against actual JPL positions

• Accuracy assessment: Quantify how well your transformation works

3. Scientific Confirmation

Your empirical method discovered the exact physical relationship needed:

• Mars satellites' orbital elements are defined relative to Mars' equatorial plane

• To visualize in ecliptic coordinates, you need Mars' axial tilt transformation

• Y-axis rotation (not X-axis) correctly handles the geometric relationship

Perturbation Effects

Mars satellites experience several perturbations not captured in simple Keplerian orbits:

• Mars oblateness (J2 effects)

• Solar perturbations

• Tidal effects (especially for Phobos)

• Mutual gravitational interaction between Phobos and Deimos

• Perseverance Mission

  • The Perseverance Rover is NASA's Mars rover and Ingenuity helicopter. The NASA Mars Perseverance mission is a robotic space mission currently underway, aimed at exploring the planet Mars and searching for signs of ancient microbial life.

    • Objective: To investigate the habitability of Mars in the ancient past, search for evidence of past microbial life, collect and store Martian rock and soil samples for future return to Earth, and test technologies for future human exploration of Mars.

    • Launch Date: July 30, 2020

    • Landing Date: February 18, 2021, at 20:55 UTC.

    • Perseverance's Journey: Perseverance, along with Ingenuity, was housed within a protective aeroshell during its journey to Mars. This aeroshell helped protect the rover and helicopter during the high-speed entry into Mars' atmosphere.

    • Landing on Mars: During the landing process, the aeroshell separated, and Perseverance used a parachute and a "sky crane" system to gently lower itself onto the Martian surface. The sky crane then detached and flew away to a safe distance before crashing.

    • Landing Site: Jezero Crater, a former lake basin believed to be a promising location for finding evidence of past life.

    • Landing elevation: Jezero Crater is located in a depression on Mars.

      • Its floor lies about 2,600 meters below the "Mars Areoid," which is a reference level similar to sea level on Earth.

      • Subtract Jezero\'s elevation from Mars\' average radius: 3,389,500 meters - 2,600 meters = 3,386,900 meters.

      • Convert to AU: Divide the distance to Jezero\'s center by the number of meters in 1 AU: 3,386,900 meters / 149,597,870,700 meters/AU ≈ 0.00002264 AU. This is very close to the "Distance from center" value reported by Horizons in the plot (0.00002267 AU) starting February 18, 21:00, which corresponds to the landing time of 20:55 UTC.

      • "Orbit": The apparent "orbit" around Mars in the plot is just the Perseverance lander rotating with Mars on the surface.

    • Rover: Perseverance, a six-wheeled, car-sized rover equipped with advanced scientific instruments. 

    • Helicopter: Ingenuity, a small, experimental helicopter that demonstrated the first powered flight on another planet. Ingenuity\'s mission has recently ended due to damage sustained during a landing.

    • Search for past life: Perseverance is equipped with instruments designed to detect chemical and mineral biosignatures, as well as examine the geological context of potential past life.

    • Sample collection: The rover has a drill and sample caching system to collect and store samples of Martian rock and soil for future return to Earth. These samples could provide invaluable insights into the history of Mars and the potential for life beyond Earth.

    • Technology demonstration: Perseverance is testing technologies that could be used for future human exploration of Mars, such as a system for producing oxygen from the Martian atmosphere.

    • Status: As of February 2025, Perseverance is still active on Mars, continuing its exploration of Jezero Crater and collecting samples. The mission is expected to continue for several more years, and the collected samples are planned to be returned to Earth in the 2030s through a joint mission with the European Space Agency.

  • Perseverance mission: mars centered (Large file: 27.7 MB)

  • Perseverance landing, February 18, 2021, animated (125 KB)

  • Perseverance mission, heliocentric (39 KB)

  • Perseverance mission, animated, heliocentric (201 KB)

  • Links:

    • NASA mission page

    • JPL rover page

    • Planetary Society mission page

    • Wikipedia mission page

    • Wikipedia rover page

    • You Tube video of Perseverance landing on February 18, 2021