Take a closer look at the mighty red planet Mars with these fun facts about Mars for kids!
Have you ever wondered about the planet Mars?
In fact, you may have even seen it!
It shines like a bright red star in the night sky.
This is one reason why we call it the “red planet.”
Mars is packed full of awesome and interesting facts.
Let’s take a look at just how amazing the red planet is!
With all these fun facts, your imagination may just take off like a rocket!
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Mars Fun Facts
Mars is Also Known as the “Red Planet”
Have you ever seen a planet that’s the color of rust?
Well, that is Mars!
It goes by the nickname the “Red Planet” because its rocky surface is covered in red dust.
Imagine if you had a planet made up of your favorite red crayon…
That is what Mars looks like!
A Day on Mars is 24 Hours and 37 Minutes
Guess what?
A day on Mars is quite similar to a day on Earth!
Mars takes about 24 hours and 37 minutes to spin around.
So, if you were to ever visit Mars, the day would be just a bit longer.
That means you’d have a little extra time for fun adventures!
Mars is Home to Olympus Mons
Do you know what a volcano is?
It’s like a mountain that can sometimes spit out hot lava.
Well, Mars is home to the biggest volcano in the whole solar system!
This volcano, called Olympus Mons, is very, very tall.
It is 72,000 feet high!
It’s so tall that it is almost three times higher than Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth!
Now that is big!
Mars Has a Super Big Canyon
Have you heard of the Grand Canyon on Earth?
Well, the Red Planet has a Grand Canyon, too!
It’s called Valles Marineris.
Valles Marineris is like a giant crack in Mars that is thousands of miles long.
In fact, it’s one of the largest canyon systems in the solar system!
There are Polar Ice Caps on Mars
Just like Earth has places that are very cold with snow and ice, so does Mars.
These polar icy spots are slightly different from the ones here on Earth.
Mars’ ice caps are made of frozen water and something called carbon dioxide.
This means that when they melt, they don’t turn into water but into a gas (or vapor).
It’s kind of like having ice cream that’s made up of frosty air!
Mars has Two Moons
Mars has two tiny moons.
Their names are Phobos and Deimos.
Think of them as two best friends that follow the “Red Planet” around in space.
Phobos is the larger of the two moons, and it zooms around Mars super fast.
Deimos is smaller, and its orbit path is far away from Mars.
The “Red Planet” May Have Had Rivers and Lakes
Did you know that a very long time ago, it was believed that Mars had rivers and lakes?
Scientists who study the planet have found clues that water may have flowed on this red planet.
Today there is very little water on Mars, and what is there is in the solid form of ice.
Now this is silly, but can you imagine splashing around in Martian puddles?
What fun that would be!
Martian Dust Storms are Mighty
Mars is known for its mighty dust storms that cover the entire planet.
These storms are so big they sometimes block the Sun and give everything a red hue.
Most dust storms on Mars stay in an area for a few days and then disappear.
Sometimes though, a Martian dust storm can have the whole planet in a haze for weeks!
Rovers Explore the Planet Mars
There are robots called rovers that have been sent to Mars to explore.
They roll around slowly, taking pictures and investigating the planet.
One rover named Curiosity is packed with all kinds of things.
It has 17 cameras, a weather station, and a chemistry lab!
Curiosity also has a robotic arm with a drill and a rock-zapping laser.
How cool is that?
Take a Trip to Mars
Have you ever dreamed of going on a Martian adventure?
So have many other people around the world!
While rockets to Mars aren’t a thing quite yet, it may be possible one day in the future.
For now, however, there is an opportunity to send your name to Mars on a rover.
Now, that’s awesome!
Fun Facts About the Planet Mars
Full of excitement and mystery, Mars is an extraordinary planet.
With two moon best friends and rolling robot explorers, Mars is full of fun information.
While we have some knowledge about the Red Planet, there is still so much more to learn.
These fun facts about Mars are a great way to encourage further space exploration!