Mars Closest Encounter
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The equatorial circumference of Mars is 21,344 km (or 13,263 miles). This is the distance you would have to go if you wanted to travel completely around the equator of Mars.
You can calculate the Mars circumference on your own if you want. The equatorial radius of Mars is 3,397 km, so you can just use the mathematical formula, C = 2 x Π x Radius. Did you get the same answer?
And just for comparison, the equatorial circumference of Earth is 40,075 km. So the circumference of Mars is 53% of the circumference of Earth.
Like many of the planets in the Solar System, Mars is rotating on its axis, turning once every 24.6 hours. This rotation causes Mars’ equator to bulge out from the center of the planet. If you wanted to drive around the planet, passing through each of its poles, you would have a shorter journey because of this. This is called the meridional circumference, and for Mars, this is only 21,244 km.
We have written many articles about Mars for Universe Today. Here’s an article with some pictures of planet Mars, and here’s an article about the temperature of Mars.
If you’d like more info on Mars, check out Hubblesite’s News Releases about Mars, and here’s a link to the NASA Mars Exploration home page.
We’ve also recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast all about Mars. Listen here, Episode 52: Mars.
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