Mars warmer than Minneapolis

Colder than the latest temperatures recorded by each of NASA's rovers and lander missions on Mars.

Temperatures rise by a few degrees near Mars' equator according to similar instruments aboard the Curiosity and Insight missions.

To be fair, it is mid-summer in Mars' northern hemisphere where the Perseverance and Insight missions are located.  Curiosity's Gale Crater location is just south of the equator.  Mars' autumnal equinox arrives on February 24.

Like Earth, Mars seasons are driven by its axial tilt. Higher temperatures as the north pole points more toward the Sun and the northern hemisphere receives more direct sunlight and lower temperatures as it points away from the Sun.

Unlike Earth, which has a nearly circular orbit around the Sun, temperatures on Mars are also significantly impacted by its distance from the Sun which varies by about 26 million miles over its 22.6 month year.  For comparison the Earth varies only 3.1 million miles and will be at its closest to the Sun (perihelion) on Tuesday, January 4.

Temperatures in Minneapolis are too cold even for the ice according to the NHL.

"Once we get too cold, we can have some issues with it being brittle or skate marks where it does chip away, so we really try to control that temperature," NHL senior manager of facilities operations Mike Craig said.

A mobile refrigeration unit pumps a glycol solution through pipes under the ice sheet.  For the first time, a pair of custom-made inline heaters will warm the glycol to keep the ice surface at the optimal 22º -24º F.  Pucks are also temperature controlled between 15º-17º F, to keep them from bouncing.  

As in previous years, player benches will be heated, but this year the NHL will add heat benches in the penalty box. 40,000 hand-warmers are available and organizers have also setup areas for fans to warm up.  Hot soup is also on the menu at concession stands.