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Mars

The Red Planet

Fourth Planet of the Solar System

Proper NameMars
Orbital Period687 days
Distance from the SunSemi-Major Axis: 227,939,000 km (1.52 AU)
Perihelion: 206,650,000 km (1.38 AU)
Aphelion: 249,229,000 km (1.67 AU)
Eccentricity0.0934
Rotation Period24.6 hours
Diameter6,794 km
Mean Surface Temperature220 K (-53°C)
MoonsDeimos, Phobos
Parent starThe Sun, yellow dwarf star
Other planets in this systemMercury, terrestrial planet
Venus, terrestrial planet
Earth, terrestrial planet
Jupiter, gas giant
Saturn, gas giant
Uranus, ice giant
Neptune, ice giant
Numerous dwarf planets, asteroids and other bodies
NotesThe fourth major planet from the Sun, Mars is distinctive for its red-orange colouration, broken only by icy white at the poles. Its diameter is only about half that of Earth.
The Martian North Pole

The broken and icy north polar region of Mars. Prominent against the whiteness is the dark gouge of the Chasma Boreale, the North Canyon.

The cold desert world of Mars lies further from the Sun than Earth. Considerably smaller than our own planet, Mars' atmosphere consists mainly of carbon dioxide.

Size Comparison of Mars

Mars has a diameter a little more than half that of Earth. Nonetheless, because it has no oceans, its total land surface is similar to that of our own planet.

The Valles Marineris

A view down into the Valles Marineris, an immense complex of valleys more than 4,000 kilometres in length, running between the volcanic plains of Tharsis and the densely cratered landscape of Chryse.

Map of Mars, centred on longitude 0°
Map of Mars, centred on longitude 0°

Equatorial view centred on longitude 0°

Map of Mars, centred on longitude 90°
Map of Mars, centred on longitude 90°

Equatorial view centred on longitude 90° West / 270° East

Map of Mars, centred on longitude 180°
Map of Mars, centred on longitude 180°

Equatorial view centred on longitude 180°

Map of Mars, centred on longitude 270°
Map of Mars, centred on longitude 270°

Equatorial view centred on longitude 270° West / 90° East

Map of Mars' north polar regions
Map of Mars' north polar regions

North polar view

Map of Mars' south polar regions
Map of Mars' south polar regions

South polar view

Mars and its moons, Phobos and Deimos, shown to scale.

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