Christmas on Mars

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Dec 14, 1999

Christmas, and the holiday season in general, has different meanings for different people. What if you did not live on earth, but on Mars? The holidays might take on a whole new meaning with new traditions if you spent Christmas on Mars.

Mars has been known by many names. The Babylonians called Mars Nergal, meaning "the great hero," while the Greeks used the name Ares after the god of war. It was the Romans who gave it its present name of Mars.

Many people developed their own myths and legends surrounding the red planet, but it was Percival Lowell who captured the imagination of the public when he published his book "Mars as the Abode of Life." We now know most of his theories were wrong, but his book sparked the imagination of both the scientific community and science fiction writers.

What would a winter on Mars be like? The weather on Mars might make you think it's winter all year long, but Mars, like Earth, has four seasons. Well, it would certainly be colder then the North or South Poles in winter on Earth. In winter Mars's temperatures often fall below -180 degrees Fahrenheit. Considering that our freezing point is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you can imagine how cold that would be.

There is a difference, though, between the cold snow we have on earth and the cold snow on Mars. Our snow and ice are made from frozen water. Mars does not have water; the ice on Mars is made of carbon dioxide, a product that we call dry ice. In the winter large clouds form over the surface of Mars. When this happens, the carbon dioxide condenses from the atmosphere and makes an instant ice patch on the surface. Unless you like spinning in circles, ice skating might be a sport you couldn't enjoy on Mars. Sledding would be out, too. So, even though Mars is cold enough, there is not enough moisture in the atmosphere to produce a significant amount of snow.

What would the holidays be like, if you lived on Mars ? First of all, when would you celebrate Christmas? Mars has 687 days to our 365 days, so would you go by the Earth's or Mars's calendar. Would you celebrate Christmas about once every two years or twice a year -- Mars time, that is?

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The copyright of the article Christmas on Mars in Science for Kids is owned by Mary M. Alward. Permission to republish Christmas on Mars in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.