a) How much less sunlight does Mars get per square centimeter than the Earth? Ma

Question

a) How much less sunlight does Mars get per square centimeter than the Earth? Mars lies at an average distance from the Sun of 1.524 astronomical units (AU).

b) We see Mars because it is scattering sunlight in our direction. How much brighter does Mars appear to be from our terrestrial perspective when it is at its closest point to us, compared to when it is at its most distant point from us. (Ignore the complication of whether you are observing Mars during the terrestrial day or night, and assume that both the Earth and Mars are moving in circular orbits.)

c) Answer question 5b for Neptune instead of Mars. Neptune is 30 AU from the Sun.

Explanation / Answer

a) 1/1.5252 = 0.43 or 43%

Mars receives about 43% of the sunlight received by Earth.

b) Mars will be closest to us in July of 2018 when it will be at 0.38 AU. Mars was farthest from us in March 2012 when it was 0.67 AU.

(1/0.38)2/(1/0.67)2 = 3.1

The Mars will appear 3.1 times brighter in July 2018.

c) c) 1/302 =0.001111 or 0.11 %

Neptune receives about 0.11% of the sunlight received by Earth.

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