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The Red Planet

Mars, named after the Roman god of war, has the nickname "The Red Planet" because of its reddish appearance. Mars is 1.5 AU (Astronomical Units) away from the sun and has two moons (Phobos and Diemos). There have been several missions to Mars from flybys, orbiters, to being the only planet we have sent rovers to.

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Mars Facts 

  • A year on Mars is 1.88 Earth years with days being a little longer than 24 hours

  • Mars is the 4th planet from the sun and is  dusty, cold, and dessert planet with a very thin atmosphere

  • The atmosphere is made up of mostly carbon dioxide, argon, nitrogen, and a small amount of oxygen and water vapor

  • The reddish color comes from iron which has turned to rust in the Martian soil

  • Mars is the only planet we have sent rovers to with currently hosting two rovers (Curiosity and Perseverance), one lander (InSight), and one helicopter (Ingenuity).  

  • Mars is smaller than Earth and it would take six of Mars to fill up Earth

  • There is evidence that there was once water on Mars 

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