Mars
Planet
Mars is the fourth planet from the
Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System, after Mercury.
Named after the Roman god of war, it is often referred to as the "Red
Planet" because the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a
reddish appearance. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere,
having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the
Moon and the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth.
The rotational period and seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar
to those of Earth, as is the tilt that produces the seasons. Mars is the
site of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano and second-highest known
mountain in the Solar System, and of Valles Marineris, one of the
largest canyons in the Solar System. The smooth Borealis basin in the
northern hemisphere covers 40% of the planet and may be a giant impact
feature. Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are small and
irregularly shaped. These may be captured asteroids, similar to 5261
Eureka, a Mars trojan.
- Radius: 2,106 miles (3,390 km)
- Surface area: 55.91 million sq miles (144.80 million km²)
- Orbital distance: 141.63 million miles (227.94 million km)
- Orbital order: 4
- Orbital period: 686.97 days
- Gravity: 12.18 feet/s² (3.71 m/s²)
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