Film Lens
The documentary examines the similarities and differences between Earth and Mars, focusing on Mars as a unique planet. It discusses early observations of Mars, including its appearance as a small red sphere and the discovery of its rotation period, which is about 24 and a half hours. The film shows the historical mapping of Mars, including the erroneous identification of features like continents and oceans, and the impact of early astronomers like Giovanni Schiaparelli, who proposed the existence of canals on the planet.
The film also covers significant advancements in Mars exploration, particularly the Mariner 9 spacecraft, which provided over 7,000 photographs revealing a cratered landscape. It discusses the findings of the Viking spacecraft and the ongoing scientific inquiries into the chemistry of Martian soil. The documentary emphasizes the quest for understanding the potential for life on Mars and the wider effects for planetary exploration and the origins of the solar system.
Why Watch
- •See the first photographs of Mars' surface from Mariner 9.
- •Find out why early astronomers thought Mars had canals.
- •Meet scientists studying Martian soil chemistry for life clues.
Did You Know
•Mars is about half the size of Earth.
•Mars orbits the Sun in 687 Earth days, making one Martian year.
•In 1877, Giovanni Schiaparelli discovered channels on Mars he called Canali.
•The Mariner 9 spacecraft transmitted more than 7,000 photographs of Mars in 1971.
Perfect For
Space explorationAstronomy enthusiastsScience history