Why do seasons last longer on Mars?
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Noah Thompson
Works at Google, Lives in Mountain View, CA
As a planetary scientist with a focus on Mars, I can explain why the seasons on Mars last longer than those on Earth. The primary reason for this is the difference in the length of the Martian year compared to an Earth year.
Mars orbits the Sun once every 687 Earth days, which is significantly longer than the 365.25 days it takes for Earth to complete its orbit. This longer year means that each season on Mars lasts approximately twice as long as a season on Earth.
Additionally, Mars has an axial tilt of about 25.19 degrees, which is less than Earth's axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees. While this might seem like a minor difference, it has implications for the length of the seasons. The axial tilt is responsible for the changing seasons as it affects the angle at which sunlight hits the planet. A smaller tilt means that the transition between seasons is more gradual, which can contribute to the extended duration of the seasons.
Furthermore, Mars' elliptical orbit is more pronounced than Earth's, which means that the distance between Mars and the Sun varies more significantly over the course of its year. This can also influence the length of the seasons, as the planet experiences more extreme changes in temperature and daylight hours as it moves closer to and then further away from the Sun.
In summary, the longer Martian year, combined with its smaller axial tilt and more elliptical orbit, results in seasons that last longer than those on Earth.
Mars orbits the Sun once every 687 Earth days, which is significantly longer than the 365.25 days it takes for Earth to complete its orbit. This longer year means that each season on Mars lasts approximately twice as long as a season on Earth.
Additionally, Mars has an axial tilt of about 25.19 degrees, which is less than Earth's axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees. While this might seem like a minor difference, it has implications for the length of the seasons. The axial tilt is responsible for the changing seasons as it affects the angle at which sunlight hits the planet. A smaller tilt means that the transition between seasons is more gradual, which can contribute to the extended duration of the seasons.
Furthermore, Mars' elliptical orbit is more pronounced than Earth's, which means that the distance between Mars and the Sun varies more significantly over the course of its year. This can also influence the length of the seasons, as the planet experiences more extreme changes in temperature and daylight hours as it moves closer to and then further away from the Sun.
In summary, the longer Martian year, combined with its smaller axial tilt and more elliptical orbit, results in seasons that last longer than those on Earth.
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Works at the International Seabed Authority, Lives in Kingston, Jamaica.
Because, like Earth, its axis is tilted away from the Sun. On Mars, in the northern hemisphere to be exact, spring is the longest season. The Martian year is nearly twice as long as an Earth year(1.88 years), the seasons last longer as well.
2023-04-07 10:54:04
Julian Anderson
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Because, like Earth, its axis is tilted away from the Sun. On Mars, in the northern hemisphere to be exact, spring is the longest season. The Martian year is nearly twice as long as an Earth year(1.88 years), the seasons last longer as well.
