Syrtis Major

[Tim]

This morning on NPR I heard on "stardate" that Syrtis Major is in the southern hemisphere of Mars and is the site of a volcano. Actually the area is in the northern hemisphere of Mars and is dark colered due to basalt; I don't think there is a recognizable volcano there.

[Cyndi Loo]

http://stardate.org/radio/program.php?f ... 2005-11-14

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/global/PIA02004.html

Here are a couple of links for you, Tim.

[Tim]

Thanks for the links. I just consulted a map and saw that Syrtis Major is indeed in the northern Martian hemisphere not the southern. It extends from about the equator to 20 degrees north.

[Tim]

Thanks for the links. I just consulted a map and saw that Syrtis Major is indeed in the northern Martian hemisphere not the southern. It extends from about the equator to 20 degrees north.

I just got an email from Star Date acknowledging that I'm right, and they're correcting the error. I wonder if I'm the only one who pointed this out.

[mabus]

Great catch :)

[Cyndi Loo]

Very nice, Tim!

[Cyndi Loo]

Hi Tim!

This would make a really great question for the science trivia request. Are you going to submit it?

[Tim]

Hi Tim!

This would make a really great question for the science trivia request. Are you going to submit it?

Maybe the subject matter is a bit too obscure.

[Tim]

Hahaha. That's great. I hate it when the news screws up.

What is star date? When is it on? We get Science Friday here, but I've never heard of that.

I hear Stardate from time to time on NPR. IIRC the woman who speaks on it is Sandy Wood.

[Cyndi Loo]

Hi Tim!

Hmmm....well it would depend on how you worded it, right? I mean if you said something along the lines of "Where is Syrtis Major located?" And then gave a location in plotting coordinates or something, it might work. Or you could even just ask, "Is Syrtis Major located in the northern or southern hemisphere of Mars?" I found your thought about this fascinating. My thought is much of your thought is educational and interesting and would make some really great trivia questions. If you bump into a problem and need someone to "simple" up a question for you, I'm the person to ask! Simple works for me.

Cyndi

[Tim]

Not many people seem to care about the old maps of Mars, showing the old telescopic features like Syrtis Major. Although these terms are still in use, designating large regions, there are many new features like Olympus Mons, revealed only by spacecraft.

[Cyndi Loo]

I do not know about "many" people, but I know it is on my list at some point in time to learn. The trivia request is for trivia questions. I would think these type questions would be a great addition, but I understand your thought and I am very respectful of it.

Cyndi

[mabus]

Actually i'd love some mars questions. Just try to make it so that it's reasonably possible for the average person to have a shot at em :)

[Tim]

Actually i'd love some mars questions. Just try to make it so that it's reasonably possible for the average person to have a shot at em :)

Here are a few possible questions:


1)What is the approximate average atmospheric pressure on Mars? .5mb? 2mb? 5-6mb? 12-15mb? 20-25mb?

2) In what month do the closest perihelic oppositions of Mars occur?


3)How much insolation does Mars get on average relative to Earth? 20%? 30%? 40%? 50%? 60%?

4) Where on Mars does the sun pass over the zenith when the planet is at aphelion? (i.e. approximate latitude)

5) Martian dust storms tend to break out when Mars is near what orbital position?

6) How old, approximately, are Noachian age features?

7) When did the greatest Martian eruptions and outflow events occur? I.e. during what broad epoch: Noachian, Hesperian or Amazonian?

8) When were erosion rates greatest on Mars?

9) What orbital position is Mars closest to when it is in opposition in the constellation Capricornis or Aquarius?

[mabus]

It's very unlikely anyone short of a professional mars astronomer would ever get any of those questions. Remember the goal is to produce a fun trivia game for the channel that will entertain laypersons.

[Tim]

It's very unlikely anyone short of a professional mars astronomer would ever get any of those questions. Remember the goal is to produce a fun trivia game for the channel that will entertain laypersons.

IMO some of the questions should be pretty easy for anyone who has read a decent Mars science book or watched the red planet for a few years or so.

[Cyndi Loo]

Hey Tim!

WOW! Those are some amazing questions. These are things I would not even know where to begin to look for answers too! You certainly do have an amazing mind for these things. Perhaps Stardate should offer you an amazingly lucrative position to answer some of the questions they get in their magazine "StarDate" which is a product of the McDonald Observatory. I have never had an opportunity to listen to the radio program, so I do not know very much about it. If you would still consider forwarding some questions for the trivia project keeping in mind many of us are not as knowledgable in this area as you are, but would still like to learn, I know I for one would really appreciate it!

May I ask Tim, if it's not too personal, which field of science is yours? I know you also have a lot of knowledge in other areas and I did wonder.

Cyndi

[Tim]

So you guys can't answer a single question of those I posed earlier on this thread? Honestly, I didn't think they were all that difficult. I've seen several books that could give the answers e.g. MARS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE. I think informed people by now should know the average atmospheric pressure on Mars.

How about this question:

Why is Mars largely reddish in color?

Or:

Why is Mars relatively small?

What evidence is there for water on Mars BESIDES the outflow channels?

[mabus]

The problem with those three questions is that they can't be answered in simple one or two word answers. Remember this is a trivia game.

[Tim]

How about:

What is the fourth planet from the sun?

What color is Mars?

How many moons does Mars have?

What are the names of the Martian moons?

[mabus]

those would definately work :)

[Cyndi Loo]

Thanks Tim! Those are really great and I am looking forward to seeing them in the Trivia quiz.

[Tim]

Here's a few more:

Which planet has the biggest volcano in the solar system? (not necessarily active)


Which terrestrial planet has the densest atmosphere?


Which terrestrial planet has the thinnest or no atmosphere?

[Cyndi Loo]

WOW! Okay. So what are the answers Tim? LOL I really want to know, especially the largest volcano question. I guess I will have to wait for the trivia project to be completed before I know!

Cyndi

[Tim]

The answers are Mars, Venus and Mercury.

Concerning the first, if I'm not mistaken, Nix Olympica on Mars is the largest known volcano.

[mabus]

Close, it's Olympus Mons.

[Tim]

I must have confused the name of the region with the name of the volcano.

[Cyndi Loo]

It's still way cool!

CL

[Tim]

Here's another easy trivia question: In what year did Mars make its nearest approach in our lifetimes?

[mabus]

if someone doesn't know this they must have spent 2 years ago hiding under a rock heh heh