The Equator is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth.

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. It has a 25 hour day. Mars is known as the Red Planet. It looks red because of iron oxide rust in the rocks and dust on its surface. The air on Mars is 100 times thinner than the Earth's air. The air on Mars is mostly carbon dioxide. Mars has two moons called Phobos and Deimos which are believed to be asteroids that became trapped by the gravity of Mars. A year on Mars is about 2 Earth years. Mars is a dry and dusty planet. On Mars there are large deserts, canyons and huge volcanos. The largest volcano in the solar system is on Mars and is called Olympus Mons. The average temperature on Mars is -81 degrees F. Mars is about half the size of the Earth. Mars is named after the god of war in Roman Mythology. In 1965, Mariner 4 was the first mission to make it successfully to Mars. Discover more about Mars by visiting Nasa's Mars Exploration Mission for Kids Site.

Facts about Mars:

Distance from the Sun: 142 million miles

Diameter at Equator: 4,200 miles

Time taken for 1 orbit: 687 days

Return to Space

Did you know?

When the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, it casts a shadow and causes an eclipse.

The Earth is 93 million miles from the Sun.

There is a high and low tide because of our moon and the Sun.

Billions of years from now, the Sun will swell up to become a red giant which in time will shrink to become a tiny star called a white dwarf.