As I said, a domed atmosphere is about the only practical way to get an atmosphere of any kind. If you tried to trap an atmosphere, without a dome, it’d be like being near the top of Everest.
According to Grok.
Mars can hold an atmosphere, but its small size and low gravity make it difficult to retain a thick, Earth-like one. Here’s a concise explanation:
Gravity and Size: Mars has about 38% of Earth’s gravity due to its smaller mass (about 11% of Earth’s) and radius (roughly half Earth’s). Lower gravity means less ability to hold onto atmospheric gases, which can escape into space over time, especially lighter molecules like hydrogen.
Current Atmosphere: Mars has a thin atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide (95.3%), with nitrogen (2.7%) and argon (1.6%). Its surface pressure is only about 0.6% of Earth’s (6 millibars vs. 1013 millibars), too low to support liquid water or human breathing without aid.
Historical Atmosphere: Evidence like ancient riverbeds and minerals suggests Mars once had a thicker atmosphere, possibly supporting liquid water 3-4 billion years ago. Its small size, lack of a strong magnetic field (unlike Earth’s, which deflects solar wind), and geological inactivity led to atmospheric loss over time. Solar wind stripped lighter gases, and the planet’s weak gravity couldn’t retain them.
Comparison: Larger planets like Earth or Venus have stronger gravity, helping retain denser atmospheres. Mars’ small size limits its ability to hold a substantial atmosphere without external intervention (e.g., terraforming).
Could Mars hold a thicker atmosphere if artificially replenished? Theoretically, yes, but maintaining it would require ongoing efforts due to its low gravity and solar wind exposure. If you’re curious about terraforming possibilities or specific atmospheric data, I can dig deeper or check for recent discussions on X or the web. Want to explore that?
Underground settlements are a more practical alternative imho.
They can be scaled gradually so no crazy technological leap is required.
I always figured that if a planet can’t be colonized without enclosing the colony in a bubble, its only real purpose would be mining. If you build a space-based colony, you can control the apparent gravity.