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The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has been used to perform systematic studies of Mars [91] and has taken the highest resolution images of Mars ever captured from Earth. [92] This telescope can produce useful images of the planet when it is at an angular distance of at least 50° from the Sun.
The minimum distance between Earth and Mars has been declining over the years, and in 2003 the minimum distance was 55.76 million km, nearer than any such encounter in almost 60,000 years (57,617 BC). The record minimum distance between Earth and Mars in 2729 will stand at 55.65 million km.
At their furthest Mars and Earth can be as far as 401 million km (249 million mi) apart. [191] Mars comes into opposition from Earth every 2.1 years. The planets come into opposition near Mars's perihelion in 2003, 2018 and 2035, with the 2020 and 2033 events being particularly close to perihelic opposition. [192] [193] [194]
The timeline of discovery of Solar System planets and their natural satellites charts the progress of the discovery of new bodies over history. Each object is listed in chronological order of its discovery (multiple dates occur when the moments of imaging, observation, and publication differ), identified through its various designations (including temporary and permanent schemes), and the ...
The first human being to reach space (defined as an altitude of over 100 km) and to orbit Earth was Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut who was launched in Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961. The first human to walk on the surface of another Solar System body was Neil Armstrong , who stepped onto the Moon on July 21, 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission ...
9.6 billion years (4.2 Gya): Tharsis Bulge widespread area of vulcanism, becomes active on Mars – based on the intensity of volcanic activity on Earth, Tharsis magmas may have produced a 1.5-bar CO 2 atmosphere and a global layer of water 120 m deep increasing greenhouse gas effect in climate and adding to Martian water table.
Generally, this is only known for rocks on Earth. Absolute ages are also known for selected rock units of the Moon based on samples returned to Earth. There is also a proposal to introduce a moment of instability of liquid water. [3] Assigning absolute ages to rock units on Mars is much more problematic.
First lander to impact Mars. Deployed from Mars 2, failed to land during attempt on 27 November 1971. [7] PrOP-M: Rover Failure Lost with Mars 2: First rover launched to Mars. Lost when the Mars 2 lander crashed into the surface of Mars. 16 Mars 3: Mars 3 (4M No.172) 28 May 1971 Soviet Union: Orbiter Successful