Fabio Vittorio De Blasio - Mysteries of Mars

Artists impression

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Fabio Vittorio De Blasio

Mysteries of Mars

Per aspera ad Astra

Topography of Mars

Few fields of science are as interesting as the exploration of the solar system. New discoveries are made in series when a space mission reaches a target and newspapers feature enigmatic images of distant worlds. Even if the novelty fades, diluted in a sea of terrestrial matters now perceived as more urgent but soon forgotten, the technical and scientific knowledge gained by humanity from the interplanetary missions accumulates permanently. And also, between one mission and the next, when the publics interest decreases, novelties appear almost every day: theories, models, and interpretations about the origin and evolution of the solar system. But the king of the planets remains Marsakin to Earth, yet so different. Devoid of abundant life as we know it here on Earth, but not of tornadoes and storms, huge volcanoes, catastrophic landslides, breathtaking views, and once, a long time ago, also of glaciers, rivers, lakes, and perhaps entire oceans. It is a planet that we can explore with great precision: the only one on which man will set foot. The increase of knowledge about Mars has been explosive rather than linear: comparing Martian maps of the 1960s with current images, it is hard to see much similarity. The planet of half a century ago was a collage of weak spots, doubtful channels, nonexistent details, and blurred white areas. Everything changed after the Mariner 4 mission, the first to provide details of the Martian surface. When the spacecraft reached the planet in 1965, scientists held their breath. They anticipated lands separated by oceans, canals, and perhaps even plant life. However, Mars seemed at first a rather disappointing planet, barren like the Moon. But subsequent missions overturned this sterile picture, and under the lens of increasingly sophisticated equipment, Mars began to show its very active past and enigmatic side. While some geological structures, such as the huge impact basins, had no equal on Earth, patterns and torrential outflow channels were similar to those on our planet. Yet, judging by the dry climate of today, Mars should not have had rivers and streams, unless the climate has changed completely over the course of its history!

This book introduces the reader to the wonders of Mars. Photos and data from half a century of missions are still being processed. We know a great deal about our planetary cousin, but many aspects of its history remain enigmatic. Ten major mysteries are introduced in parallel. Where has the water gone, once so abundant on the red planet? How do we know that the climate of Mars has changed over billions of years? And why does Mars feature two distinct parts, a northern hemisphere dominated by lowlands and a mountainous south? Shedding light on the mysteries of Mars is not only inspiring for those interested in astronomy and planetary science. It is also a keystone for understanding the Earth itself and our place in the cosmos. As regards the exploration of Mars and the planets, we are fortunate to live in a period of such great discoveries, like the one that must have animated the explorers of the ocean in the sixteenth century. Our exploration is only conceptual, without any physical risk. But it is by no means less exciting.