Red Planet Day
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Where is Red Planet Day celebrated?
Red Planet Day is celebrated globally.
Who is Red Planet Day celebrated by?
People eager to know more about the solar system celebrate Red Planet Day.
When did Red Planet Day first start?
Red Planet Day was created as a holiday by NASA after 'Mariner 4' was launched on its journey towards Mars on November 28, 1964.
Who started Red Planet Day?
After 'Mariner 4', NASA created November 28 as a holiday to commemorate the day.
History And Timeline
Around 400 BC, due to their fascination with the night sky, the Babylonians begin to keep records of planetary events. Ancient Romans, Babylonians, and Greeks called Mars Nergal and Ares.
Exploratory missions to reach Mars started in the '60s by the Soviet Union. NASA successfully launched the planet's surface spacecraft 'Mariner 4' in 1964 on November 28.
To commemorate the success of the exploratory missions, NASA declared November 28 as Red Planet Day. The mission released many pictures of the Martian surface. The first surface pictures in close-up taken by 'The Viking' landers give no strong evidence about life.
Polar ice caps were detected by flyby mission. The canals shown in the pictures give an optical illusion of a face and some say it is evidence of a previous civilization on the Red Planet.
Babylonians Record Martian Events
Babylonians began to keep celestial records of Mars due to a fascination with the night sky.
4th century BCFirst Successful Mars Mission
The first successful Mars mission, 'Mariner 4', is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
1964Vikings First Landed
'The Viking' landers are the first successful spacecraft to land on Mars.
1976Rovers First Landed
'Pathfinder', the first American robotic spacecraft with a probe, launches in 1996, and a year later the American 'Sojourner' rover starts to take samples for the first time.
1996-'97First Rover With Helicopter
The 'Perseverance' rover launches, the first rover with an onboard helicopter.
2020First Chinese Rover
On May 22, 2021, the Chinese Rover 'Zhurong' is deployed.
2021Traditions And Customs
On Red Planet Day, planetariums, science centers, and schools hold different events to create awareness of Mars. Mars represents youth and masculinity in different cultures.
Besides Mars and Earth have the same seasonal cycles and rotational periods, both are similar in many ways. Mars was recorded by Egyptian astronomers in 1534 BCE, and they noticed the retrograde motion of Mars. Many scientists and astronomers believe that Mars can eventually become habitable due to its similarities with Earth.
Ways To Celebrate Red Planet Day
First, join an astronomical club, watch the planet, study more about the planet's environment to celebrate Red Planet Day. Celebrate the day by building solar-system models for your kids, conducting robotic competitions and drone races, and playing with interactive Moon and Mars maps.
Facts And Stats
Red Planet Day is a day to remember the robotic interplanetary probe 'Mariner 4' launched by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA in 1964.
In 1976, 'The Viking' landers were the first successful spacecraft to land on Mars. Learn about such interesting facts on Red Planet Day.
Share the images taken by 'Mariner 4' under the hashtag #RedPlanetDay on social media.
What planet is known as red?
Mars is known as the Red Planet.
When can I see the Red Planet?
Mars can be seen on December 8, 2022, as it is at its nearest point to Earth.
What is the significance of Red Planet Day?
On November 28 every year, Red Planet Day is celebrated, which commemorates the launching of the 'Mariner 4' spacecraft in 1964.
Will humans live on Mars?
For human survival on Mars, life support like water-processing systems are required. Mars currently has only frozen water.
What is the history and origin of Red Planet Day?
Many attempts had been made to reach planet Mars in the early '60s by the Soviet Union and America. Although early missions failed, America's 'Mariner 4' was the first successful spacecraft to reach Mars, launched by NASA in 1964 on November 28. To commemorate this day, November 28 is celebrated as Red Planet Day.
What is unique about Red Planet Day?
Red Planet Day is observed to develop an awareness of Mars. For instance, the Red Planet has two irregularly shaped moons, Deimos and Phobos.
When Is This Day Celebrated
- Friday, November 27, 2020
- Saturday, November 27, 2021
- Sunday, November 27, 2022
- Monday, November 27, 2023
- Wednesday, November 27, 2024
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With an MBA under her belt, Deepthi has discovered her true calling in content writing. Her writing repertoire is diverse, covering travel, movies, pet care, parenting, animals and birds, and more. Her joy of learning and creating has helped her craft well-written and engaging articles. When she isn't writing, Deepthi enjoys exploring new cultures, trying different foods, and spending quality time with her two children aged 7 and 12.
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With a passion for American, British, and children's literature, Shruti is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Garden City University, Bengaluru. Her fluency in Nepali, Hindi, and Mandarin demonstrates her linguistic abilities and global perspective. In addition to her literary pursuits, she has a keen interest in non-fiction literature, aesthetics, early childhood education, and Egyptian history. Shruti's research paper 'Bringing Art Illustrations In Education And Pop Culture' showcases her proficiency in these areas and her dedication to academic excellence.
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