Mars

The red planet

Mars is red because its soil is like rusty iron. Mars has the tallest mountain in the Solar System — three times higher than Everest! People have sent robots to Mars that drive around, take pictures and study rocks. Maybe one day you will go to Mars too!

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. Its red colour comes from iron oxide (rust) in the soil. The atmosphere is very thin (1% of Earth's) and mostly carbon dioxide. Mars has Olympus Mons — the largest volcano, 21.9 km tall — and Valles Marineris, a giant canyon 4,000 km long. Its poles have caps of water ice and dry ice (CO₂). Mars has two small moons: Phobos and Deimos. Several rovers (Perseverance, Curiosity) are working on Mars right now, searching for traces of ancient life.

Fun facts

• Sunsets on Mars are blue!
• A Martian day is almost like ours — just 40 minutes longer.
• Dust storms on Mars can cover the whole planet and last for months.
• On Mars you'd weigh 3 times less — and jump 3 times higher!