[X] My Assistant

[tanjent]

According to this BBC article, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25287806

satellite measures of surface temperatures on Earth confirm an observed range of 163.9 degrees; (-93.2c to +70.7c); thus wider than the differences between summer highs and winter lows experienced by Spirit and Opportunity. The low figure falls slightly above the measurements taken by Phoenix just before contact was lost in October 2008.

It is surprising to me that between these two planets with very similar axial tilts and rotation times, the wider range of observed temperatures appears likely to be found on the Earth despite its much thicker atmosphere. (To confirm this, high and low extremes for Mars would have to be measured using the same satellite-based approach.)

[djellison]

It is surprising to me that between these two planets with very similar axial tilts and rotation times, the wider range of observed temperatures appears likely to be found on the Earth despite its much thicker atmosphere. (To confirm this, high and low extremes for Mars would have to be measured using the same satellite-based approach.)

As you alude to - you're comparing highs and lows from near the Martian equator - with Highs of Earth's equatorial region and lows of high altitude Antarctic region.

You're not comparing apples with apples.

I would argue that winter polar minimums on Mars could very well take that range and make it pretty much as large as that for Earth.