Mars Facts

DISTANCE FROM SUN: 142 million miles 
REVOLUTION AROUND SUN: 687 days
ROTATION: 25 hours
DIAMETER: 4,200 miles 
AVERAGE  TEMPERATURE:  -85°F (but temperature varies greatly)
SATELLITES: 2   

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. The temperature on Mars can be very, very cold. On its warmest day, Mars can still be a very cold place.

Mars is about half the size of Earth. It's bright appearance and reddish color make it stand out in the night sky. Its huge volcanoes and valleys often cannot be seen because of giant dust storms. For a long time scientists thought that there might be some form of life on Mars.  That is why we have so many movies and stories about Martian landings on Earth.  But...the planet Mars seems to be a dead world.  It is dry, wind-blown, and covered with iron oxide dust.  That dust is what gives Mars its reddish appearance. And that is how Mars god its name.  Ancient people looked at the red planet and thought it looked bloody, so they named this planet after the god of war.

Mars has 2 satellites, or moons: Phobos and Deimos. They have odd shapes.  They look like potatoes! Scientists think these moons were actually asteroids pulled in by Mars' gravity.

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Mars does have an atmosphere. It consists mostly of carbon dioxide. Mars' North Pole has a thick ice cap. There may be large areas of water locked under the icy surface of this planet.  And the channels and canyons on the surface of Mars were probably created by flowing water when, long ago, the planet was warmer.

Did you know that.....????
    Some of the meteorites found on Earth are actually pieces of the planet Mars. 

Questions:
1.  What are the names of the Martian moons?
2.  Why was Mars named after the god of war?
3.  Which planet is larger, Mars or Earth?
4. Would you say that Mars is a cold or a hot planet?
5. Look at the facts in red at the top of this page.  Which fact about Mars is most like the Earth?