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About Mars
About Mars
Named after the Roman god of war due to its red color.
Mars, known as the Red Planet, is the fourth planet from the Sun and is often considered the most Earth-like planet in terms of its surface conditions. It has a thin atmosphere, with seasons and ice caps, and is home to the largest volcano and canyon in the solar system.
Distance of Mars From the Sun - Mars orbits the Sun at an average distance of 227.9 million km (141.6 million miles), or 1.52 AU.
Earth size comparison - Mars is about 53% of Earth’s size. If Earth were a basketball, Mars would be about the size of a softball.
Five Facts About Mars
Five Facts About Mars
Red Surface – Mars has a reddish appearance due to iron oxide (rust) in the soil, which gives the planet its signature color.
Largest Volcano – Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, which stands about 22 km (13.6 miles) high—nearly three times the height of Mount Everest!
Thin Atmosphere – The atmosphere on Mars is mostly carbon dioxide and is about 100 times thinner than Earth’s, which makes it difficult for humans to breathe or survive without support.
Mars Has Two Moons – Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are thought to be captured asteroids from the asteroid belt.
Cold Temperatures – Mars is much colder than Earth, with average surface temperatures around -60°C (-80°F), though it can drop as low as -125°C (-195°F) at the poles during winter.
Click on any of the names below to learn more about other planets in our solar system.
Mercury | Venus | Earth | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Dwarf Planet Pluto
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