Sol (day on Mars) facts for kids
Sol is the name for a day on the planet Mars. It comes from the Latin word for "sun". Just like we have days on Earth, Mars has its own kind of day, which scientists call a "sol."
A Martian day, or sol, is a bit longer than an Earth day. It lasts for 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35.244 seconds. This is why scientists and space missions on Mars use "sols" to keep track of time instead of Earth days.
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What is a Martian Day?
A day on any planet is the time it takes for that planet to spin around once on its axis. This spin makes the sun appear to rise and set. On Earth, this takes about 24 hours. On Mars, it takes a little longer.
How Long is a Sol?
The exact length of a sol is 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35.244 seconds. This means a sol is about 39 minutes and 35 seconds longer than an Earth day. If you were living on Mars, your days would feel slightly longer!
Why is a Sol Different from an Earth Day?
Planets spin at different speeds. Earth spins at a certain speed, giving us our 24-hour day. Mars spins a bit slower, which makes its day longer. Also, the time it takes for a planet to orbit the sun affects how we measure a "solar day." Because Mars spins and orbits differently from Earth, its day length is unique.
Measuring Time on Mars
When space missions like the Mars rovers land on the Red Planet, their teams on Earth start working on "Mars time." This means their work schedules follow the Martian sols, not Earth days. This helps them plan activities for the rovers when it's daytime on Mars. It can be tricky for the scientists, as their work hours shift slightly each Earth day to match the longer Martian day.
