Mars: Glossary

A

Ares

Greek god of war

atmosphere

the gases that surround a planet

C

Chinese

people from China or who live in China

carbon dioxide

a colorless, odorless gas

D

Deimos

smaller of the two moons that orbit Mars

E

Egyptians

people from Egypt or who live in Egypt

earthquakes

the movement of the surface of a planet - usually Earth, but in this case refers to the surface of Mars

equipment

tools

erosion

the movement of soil usually by wind or water

evidence

clues

G

Greeks

people from Greece or who live in Greece

ground water

water found under the ground

I

in-situ

in the original, natural position - undisturbed

ingredients

mponent parts of a mixture, items combined to make a product

instruments

tools

L

laboratories

aces where scientific research is done

M

Mars

Roman god of war

manned mission

a mission that includes sending humans

meteor impacts

craters left by the impact of a meteor

P

Phobos

larger of the two moons that orbit Mars

polar regions

areas near the north and south pole

prehistoric

before written history

propelled

ving ahead by means of a power source

R

Romans

people from Rome or who live in Rome

riverbeds

the land under a river - usually after the river is dried up

robotic arm

arm like part of a powered tool which can work in place of a human arm

S

seasons

the cycles of spring, summer, autumn and winter

U

US Naval Observatory

the official location for a series of astronomical studies and the official time keeper for the United States

V

volcanoes

geologic feature that allows magma or gases to vent from inside a moon or planet