The Mars rover Zhurong has traveled more than 1.9 km since it first set its wheels on the surface of the planet in May last year, according to the latest data released by the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration.
As of Sunday, Zhurong had been operating on the surface of Mars for 342 Martian days at a distance of 240 million km from Earth. A Martian day is approximately 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth.
Zhurong touched down on the Utopia Planitia, a vast plain in the northern hemisphere of Mars, on May 15, 2021. Since then, it has collected surface rock samples and captured images while exploring the planet.
Mars is about to enter the winter season, during which night temperatures will drop below minus 100 degrees Celsius, with a high probability of sandstorms. Martian winters last an equivalent of six Earth months.
Scientists have made special designs on the Zhurong rover, including low temperature resistance, sand resistance, power security and other features, to ensure the safe conduct of the Mars patrol and exploration process.
火星的自转周期与地球接近,一个火星日仅比地球长约40分钟,火星的自转轴倾角为25.19°,与地球也非常接近,因此火星也和地球一样存在昼夜交替和四季变化。而火星的公转周期约是687天,即1个火星年相当于1.9个地球年,这意味着火星每个季节的平均持续时间约是地球上的2倍。
The average duration of each season on Mars is about twice as long as on Earth.
去年“祝融号”刚着陆时,火星运行至远日点附近时,太阳直射点在北半球,那时北半球刚进入夏季、南半球进入冬季。现在,着陆火星近1年,火星运行在近日点附近,太阳直射点在南半球,“祝融号”所在的北半球正在进入冬季、南半球进入夏季。
未来两个月,太阳直射点还将继续向火星南部移动,大约在7月中下旬到达南回归线附近,届时火星北半球将进入一年中最冷的时节。为了安全度过火星寒冬、沙尘暴等极端天气,“祝融号”火星车设计了自主休眠等工作模式,在能源降低到一定程度后会自动进入休眠模式,等到环境条件逐渐转好后,再恢复正常工作模式。
来源:中国日报双语新闻
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