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Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. Its orbit is roughly 142 million miles from the sun. The planet\'s reddish color is caused by rust (iron oxide) in the soil. Mars is the planet most like Earth. It takes 687 Earth days (about 2 Earth years) for Mars to go around the sun one time, and Mars spins on its axis at about the same speed as Earth does. It takes 24 hours and 37 minutes (about 1 Earth day) for Mars to rotate one time. Mars has the largest canyon (Valles Marineris), and the highest volcano (Olympus Mons) in the solar system. If Valles Marineris were on Earth, it would span the United States, from New York on the East Coast to California on the West Coast. It is about 1,300 miles long, 310 miles wide, and about 5 miles deep. Olympus Mons is nearly 3 times higher than Mount Everest. It rises above the Martian surface more than 82 thousand feet. This giant volcano\'s base is the size of Missouri. There are also lots of channels on Mars, and they look like Earth\'s river channels. Most scientists believe water once flowed on the martian surface, but new studies suggest there may still be water in some places on the surface. The lowest surface temperature on Mars is -190°F, while the hottest temperature is 90°F. To escape the gravity of Mars, you have to travel 11,200 miles per hour. Mars is about 4,212 miles in diameter. The martian atmosphere is very thin and made of carbon dioxide (95%), nitrogen (3%), argon and other gases (1%). The polar ice caps on Mars are made of frozen carbon dioxide or dry ice. Mars has two potato-shaped moons, Phobos is about 17 miles long and Deimos is about 9 miles long. Because the Red Planet\'s color reminded ancient astronomers of blood, they named the planet after their gods of war. Mars was the Roman god of war. The planet\'s two moons also have names that relate to war. Phobos means fear, and Deimos means panic.
Part of the middle section of Valles Marineris
Olympus Mons is the largest volcano peak in the solar system
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