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Mars
The red planet.
Discovery
Mars has been known since antiquity and observed by many civilizations, including the Babylonians, Greeks, and Chinese.
Name and Meaning
Mars is named after the Roman god of war, reflecting its reddish, blood-like appearance. In many cultures, Mars’s color and wandering motion inspired myths linking it to conflict and omens.
Distance from the Sun
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun. Its average orbital distance is about 227.9 million km (1.52 AU). A Martian year lasts 687 Earth days. Because of its elliptical orbit, The distance between Mars and Earth varies widely, producing favorable oppositions roughly every 26 months.
A Martian Day (Sol)
A sol, the scientific term for a day on Mars, lasts about 24 hours and 39 minutes, making it roughly 4 minutes longer than a day on Earth.
Mars’ Moons
Mars has two small irregular moons, Phobos and Deimos, likely captured asteroids. Phobos orbits so close that it is slowly spiraling inward and may break up into a ring in tens of millions of years.
Size and mass
Mars has a diameter of 6,779 km and a mass about 10.7% of Earth’s. Gravity at the surface is roughly 38% of Earth’s, shaping dust transport, erosion, and potential human activity.
Chemistry and atmosphere
The surface is basaltic rock and dust rich in iron oxides, giving Mars its red hue. The atmosphere is thin and dominated by carbon dioxide (~95%), with nitrogen and argon making up most of the remainder. Seasonal COâ‚‚ exchange at the poles drives pressure changes and weather patterns.