Mars

Astronomical Facts

The following data is current as of 1995.
Average Distance from Sun (Earth = 1.0): 1.5
Radius (Earth radii): 0.5
Number of known Moons: 2
Rotation Period (length of day): 1.03 days
Revolutionary Period (length of year): 1.88 years
Mass (Earth masses): 0.1
Density (g/cm3): 3.9
Atmosphere: 95.3 % carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, 0.13% oxygen, 0.07% carbon monoxide, 0.03% water vapor. The temperature on Mars is, on average about 50 degrees Kelvin cooler than on Earth. The poles have ice caps which shrink during summer and get larger in the winter. These ice caps are mostly frozen carbon dioxide. the northern hemisphere of Mars is mostly fairly smooth, probably like rolling volcanic plains, while the southern hemisphere is mostly heavily cratered highlands. There are 4 very large volcanoes on Mars and hundreds of smaller ones. Mars has no magnetic field.

Mars has 2 Moon, Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Panic), named for the horses the drew Aries' chariot. Astronomers believe that these 2 Moons were once asteroids that were captured by Mars and became satellites.

Astrological Meaning

Mars is the planet of desires. It shows how you aim at your goals and how you power yourself toward your goals. Mars represents your most fundamental wants. The sign placement of Mars shows the fundamental nature of your assertions. The house placement of Mars shows the area of your life you are most likely to focus on. The aspects to Mars show how and to what extent your desires and assertions are involved with other aspects of
living.

Historical Myth & Legend

Ares, the Greek god of war, is typically portrayed as a ferocious fighter who enjoyed bloody encounters. Despite his aggressive and ferocious character, he sometimes would lose a battle because he would be outwitted by his opponent.

For example, in The Iliad, the mortal Diomedes was able to injure Ares in a battle. Diomedes was assisted by the goddess Athena. Ares had several intense love relationships, most notably one with Aphrodite, but no lasting happiness in romantic affairs.

Astrologers generally regard the planet Mars as the drive for achievement and it is not necessarily militaristic or aggressive, but frustration and anger are vexing problems that most people encounter regularly; mastering the energy of Mars is often challenging and difficult. It is certainly true that Mars needs the assistance of Mercury (intelligence) to achieve its goals, and with out which it can become unbalanced and dysfunctional.