|
|
| Photo: NASA (see more) |
Mars The fourth planet from the sun in our solar system. Mars is the closest planet to Earth, hence Americans and Europeans plan to travel there for the first manned mission to another planet. Mars has two moons, both less than 30 km in diameter, and a thin atmosphere. The temperature of the planet never exceeds 0˚C and it’s still unknown whether it hosts life as we know it. Along these lines David Bowie asks in song, “Is there Life on Mars?” Due to its proximity to Earth, Mars has been the object of much science-fiction, especially in the 1950’s when the ‘red planet’ and its imaginary inhabitants tended to be viewed as something potentially hostile. H. G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds (1898) has Martian invaders almost entirely wiping out humanity. The book was adapted to film in 1953 with amazingly advanced special effects for the time. Another version of the film appeared in 2005, directed by Steven Spielberg. Mars Attacks! (1996) was a comedic (some might say crass) film that spoofed the genre of Hollywood films about ‘hostile aliens from Mars.’ Mars is also the Roman god of war, second in rank only to Jupiter. The Roman god Mars is often associated with the Greek Ares, although Ares is more belligerent. Mars originally was a Roman agricultural and nature god. » Ares, Aries, Romulus and Remus, Scorpio
Add to this, report errors, suggest edits or voice your opinion by posting a comment
