Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System (in adherence with the IAU's controversial 2006 definition of planet), being larger than only Mercury. In English, Mars carries the name of the Roman god of war and is often referred to as the "Red Planet" due to its reddish appearance.This signature colour comes from the large amount of a chemical called iron oxide (or ‘rust’ as you might know it) in its rocks and soil.
Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide.
Mars is home to the highest mountain in our solar system –– a volcano called Olympus Mons. Standing a whopping 24 kilometres high, it’s about three times the height of Mount Everest!
Mars Facts
- Equatorial Diameter:6000000 km
- Polar Diameter: 6,752 km
- Equatorial Circumference: 21,297 km
- Mass: 6.39 x 10^23 kg (0.11 Earth)
- Known Moon: 2
- Notable Moons: Phobos & Deimos
- Orbit Distance: 227,943,824 km (1.38 AU)
- Orbit Period: 687 Earth days(1.9 Earth years)
- Surface Temperature: -87° to -5°C
- First Record: 2nd Millenium BC
- Recorded By: Egyptian Astronomers