The planet Mars has always been a source of inspiration for artists and writers. This may be because of it’s barren, dusty environment or perhaps it’s because of the Red Planet’s inhabitants, the Martians. Either way, the planet Mars has always been associated with science fiction and fantastical stories.
Since the 1800s, authors have been turning to Mars as a backdrop for their stories. Sometimes the Martians are the main characters and sometimes they’re just antagonists. Regardless, they’ve always embodied the spirit of science fiction and fantasy. In 2019 alone, there were multiple television series and films inspired by the planet Mars. From The Expanse to Mars Attacks!, Mars has been the setting for countless stories. From John Carter to War of the Worlds, Mars has been there.
While Mars has been the focus of many works of fiction over the years, it’s recently been the subject of scientific study as well. In 2019 alone, there were seven published papers on the subject of renewable energy on the planet Mars. This is most likely a result of the planet’s position in relation to the Sun. With the help of the Sun, Mars is able to maintain a habitable environment.
The Relevance Of Solar Energy On Mars
As we’ve established, Mars has always been considered a planet of inspiration for artists and writers. In 2019, it was revealed that this may be because of its similarities to Earth. In particular, Mars has always had an atmosphere and it has seasonal changes similar to those on Earth. While there’s no definitive proof that the human race evolved from Martian lifeforms, it’s biologically plausible and even likely.
Mars is in a constant state of evolution which makes it extremely relevant to the study of solar energy. The planet’s current atmospheric conditions are similar to those that existed on Earth prior to the development of atmospheric air-conditioning. For this reason, scientists have begun to study ways in which humans could live on Mars using only renewable energy sources. One way would be to make use of the Sun. This is because, with the Sun, Mars is able to maintain a habitable environment. Even now, as we speak, the Sun is shining down on the planet Mars and providing it with enough energy to maintain a warm environment and allow for the presence of liquid water. This is in contrast to Earth at this time of year, where the Sun is barely visible due to the planet’s blanket of clouds and atmosphere.
The average temperature on Mars at this time is 14 degrees Celsius. The lowest recorded temperature on Mars is −89 degrees Celsius and the highest recorded temperature is 25 degrees Celsius. In comparison, the average temperature on Earth is 15 degrees Celsius and the highest recorded temperature is 373 degrees Celsius. It should be noted that these are average temperatures and there are areas on Mars, particularly the polar regions, that can be significantly colder or hotter than this. In fact, in the wintertime, the Sun’s rays are so beamed directly onto the polar ice caps that they actually melt them. This has resulted in the formation of large lakes on Mars. For this reason, while there’s no question that the planet Mars is an incredible place and a constant source of inspiration for artists and writers, it is potentially also the most suitable planet for human colonization due to its close similarity to Earth. The next step, therefore, is to harness the Sun’s energy and use it to sustain human life on Mars.
With the development of technology and the reduction in cost of components, it’s now possible to create devices that can turn the Sun’s energy into electricity. This has led to a blossoming interest in renewable energy resources, particularly on other planets. In 2020, the International Astronomical Union announced that it had approved a proposal to study the potential for using solar power on Mars. The proposal was accepted at the IAU’s 20th General Assembly in Prague earlier this year, making it one step closer to becoming a reality. At the moment, the technology behind this is extremely expensive and it would be cheaper to send people to colonize the planet rather than spend money on expensive hardware. At least, that’s what the proponents of this plan would like us to believe.
The Possibility Of Colonizing Mars
If you’re reading this, I assume that you’re either an artist or a writer and that you’ve been infected with the Martian virus, which turned you into a passionate supporter of all things related to Mars. While the idea of colonizing Mars may be far-fetched, it’s not impossible. As we’ve established, Mars has always been associated with science fiction and fantastical stories so it comes as no great surprise that it’s been the subject of many a fictitious work of fiction. Asimov’s classic, The Martian Chronicles, was inspired by his love of the Red Planet. The Foundation series also boasts many locations that are either on or near Mars. In fact, many of the planets in these series are identical to Mars. Unfortunately, as we’ve also established, Mars has always been considered a planet of inspiration for creators, rather than humanity at large. This is because, even now, with all the knowledge we have about living on other planets, none of us want to go there. The appeal of Mars is in part down to the fact that it’s close to Earth and its inhabitants could potentially help us in the fight for survival against rising climate change. It’s also a planet that we as a species have been fascinated by for as long as we’ve been able to think. Maybe one day, in the future, we’ll look back on Earth and see it as just another planet we passed through on our way to somewhere grander. Who knows?