facts about mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, known as the "Red Planet" due to its distinct orange-red appearance caused by iron oxide (rust) on its surface. It is roughly half the size of Earth, with a diameter of about 6,779 to 6,791 kilometers. Mars has a thin atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon, and experiences surface temperatures ranging from -153°C to 20°C. The planet has seasons similar to Earth due to its axial tilt of about 25 degrees and a day length of roughly 24.6 hours. Mars features the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, standing about 21.9 to 24 kilometers high, and one of the largest canyons, Valles Marineris, which stretches about 4,000 kilometers. It has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are irregularly shaped. Mars is geologically active with marsquakes and has polar ice caps primarily made of frozen carbon dioxide. Although Mars is now a cold, dry desert, evidence suggests it once had a warmer climate with liquid water, including rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans. Current water exists mostly as ice and in the soil. Mars is a primary focus for exploration due to the possibility it may have supported life in the past or could support life in the future.