Mars Facts - Kids
As depicted in books, movies and pop culture, Mars is a planet that has fascinated mankind for much of our existence. Here are some interesting facts about Mars for kids.
Mars Facts - Kids
As the fourth planet from the sun, we’ve always found Mars interesting. The primary reason seems to be both that the planet is similar to ours and dead. It is generally agreed that if the Earth lost its atmosphere, it would look similar to Mars. This theory, of course, has resulted in speculation about whether Mars can be revived and become a second home to mankind.
Here are some interesting facts about Mars:
- Mars is named after the Greek God of War.
- Mars is referred to as the Red Planet because of its distinct red color.
- Mars had a magnetic field like the Earth, but has lost it.
- Mars temperatures are generally cold, ranging from -200 to a maximum high of 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mars has roughly the same surface area of the Earth, but is much less dense.
- A Martian day is a little over 24 hours.
- A Martian year is more than twice that of the Earth – 687 days.
- Mars atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, which is toxic to most life in such large quantities.
- Mars has two moons, Phobos and Diemos.
- Both Mars moons have diameters of roughly 20 kilometers.
- Mars has huge canyons that make the Grand Canyon look like a crack in the sidewalk.
- Dust storms can cover much of Mars for months at a time.
- Olympus Mons is the largest volcano on Mars and in the solar system.
- Olympus Mons covers an area larger than the state of Arizona.
- Mars has polar ice caps like Earth.
- NASA has planned a manned mission to Mars, but no launch date has been set.
- Multiple probes have been sent to Mars and two rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, are currently on the surface.
- Mars surface material returned by probes has shown possible signs of bacterial life, sparking energetic debate in the scientific community as to whether life exists on the planet.
- Mars was believed to have had flowing water like the Earth at one point in time.
- Mars has seasons like the Earth because it tilts on its axis in a manner similar to us.
- Mars doesn’t have tectonic plates.
Mars has always fascinated mankind. It is strikingly similar to our planet. Although many of the myths surrounding the planet have been disproved, there are still plenty of Mars facts to peak the curiosity of kids and adults.
