MARS
MARS
Mars has a distinct red colour, which is due to the high concentration of iron-oxide (rust) on the surface.
Mars has polar ice-caps made primarily of carbon dioxide ice, unlike Earth's polar ice-caps, which are made of water ice.
Image credit: Rosetta, ESA.
Mars Facts
Diameter: 6,780 kilometres, or 4,213 miles
Axial tilt: 25.2 degrees
Minimum surface temperature: -143 degrees Celsius, or -226 degrees Fahrenheit
Maximum surface temperature: 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit
Distance from the Sun: 227,939,200 kilometres (227 million, 939 thousand, 200 kilometres), or 141,635,000 miles (141 million, 635 thousand miles)
Rotation period (day): 24.6 Earth hours
Orbital period (year): 687 Earth days
Moons: Phobos (Mars I) and Deimos (Mars II)
This spectacular image from the surface of Mars, shows Mount Sharp from inside Gale Crater.
Image credit: Curiosity Rover, NASA.
Mars has two Moons, Phobos and Deimos. Here the wispy atmosphere of Mars can be seen, along with the moon Phobos.
Image credit: Mangalyaan, ISRO.