Barsoom

Barsoom (better known to Earthmen as Mars, by the inhabitants of jupiter as Garobus) is the fourth planet in the Solar System, and the main setting of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian novels. It is orbited by the moons Thuria (Phobos) and Cluros (Deimos). In the distant past. It bore five oceans, the only one of these oceans known by name is Throxeus. Today only these oceans are all but dried out, and the planet now has very little water.

Compensatory Adjustment of Masses

There exists a peculiar relationship between barsoom and its satellites, that does not exsist between any other planet and its satellites in the solar system. It was first suggested by an obscure scientist thousands of years ago, and later it was proven. What happens is that any mass approaching the satellites will change in size and mass as to be proportioned the same as they are on barsoom to the satellite they are now on.

Native Time Measurement

An ord is a Martian year. It lasts about 684 padans. The Martians divide up their calendar into about 9 months, each one lasting 70 days in Earth time. A padan is a Martian day, a day on Mars lasts 10 zodes, or 24.5 jasoom hours, with the eighth zode being approximately midnight. A tal is a Martian second. 1 tal is equivalent to 45 Earth seconds. 4 tals is equal to 1 xat. A xat is a Martian minute. 1 xat is equivalent to three Jasoom minutes, or four tals.