Mars The Red Planet What do we know about it, and was it really made to sustain human life? ( by Murry Rives )
	Recently Mars reached its closest point to earth; a phenomenon that will not occur again until 2016.

What do we know about it?

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It has a diameter of approximately 4,213 miles, and is about half the size of the Earth. As a result of the absence of liquid water, it has about the same total land area as the Earth, even though it is much smaller. Mars is on average about 142 million miles from the Sun. Because of its position in relation to the Sun, the duration of one day on Mars lasts approximately 42 minutes longer than a typical Earth day. Mars is a terrestrial planet and is the outermost of the "rocky" planets, with an extremely thin atmosphere. The atmosphere consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen and about 1.6% argon.

The planet has two small moons (orbiting satellites), "Phobos" and "Deimos." These are thought to be asteroids that have been sucked in by the gravitational pull of Mars, which is around 38 percent of Earth's gravity.

Mount Olympus appears to be a volcano on the surface of Mars. Its peak rises about 88,000 feet above the surface of the Martian planet, making it approximately three times the height of Mount Everest, here on Earth. Mons Olympus is also the tallest known mountain in the entire solar system.

Mars was originally thought to contain a solid iron core, similar to the theorized liquid iron core of our home planet. However, recent studies have indicated that the structure of its core may also be somewhat liquid.

Was it really made to sustain human life?

In an attempt to find intelligent life in the outer reaches of the universe, scientists have chosen the planet Mars as one of the primary destinations for exploration, given its close proximity to Earth, and its terrestrial structure. Technologically advanced Martian land rovers, have traversed the face of this desolate planet, exploring its "rocky" terrain, in an effort to find any trace of life.

Despite the endless search for intelligent life on Mars, none has been found there, or any place in the Universe. The Bible refers to only the Earth as having been created to support life:

We are told that our Creator formed the Earth as the home for His living creatures, and most importantly, human life. We are also told that He created man in His own image, and that He breathed into man the breath of life, and formed him from the dust of the Earth.

The Earth holds a very special place in the eyes of our Creator, Jesus Christ. It is unlike any other celestial body in the heavens.

Today there are those who would attempt to persuade us that there is nothing special about humans or the earth. They have chosen to believe the lie that was introduced by Satan in The Garden of Eden - That man can be as God. Denying the Creator, they reject the fact that one day every knee will bow to Him.

Additional Reading Material:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071218-mars-closest.html
http://www.earthsky.org/radioshows/51901/mars-closest-to-earth-december-18-2007
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/hst_img_20071218.html