Mars Facts
Everything you need to know about the Red Planet — in bite-sized form.
Surface Gravity is 38% of Earth's
Mars has a surface gravity of 3.72 m/s² — about 37.6% of Earth's 9.8 m/s². A 150-pound person would weigh roughly 57 pounds on Mars. This lower gravity affects everything from human physiology to how buildings must be constructed.
Olympus Mons is the Tallest Volcano in the Solar System
At approximately 22 km high and 600 km in diameter, Olympus Mons dwarfs Mount Everest by nearly three times. It is a shield volcano so wide that standing at its base, you cannot see the summit — it lies beyond the horizon.
Valles Marineris Would Span the United States
The Valles Marineris canyon system stretches about 4,000 km long — roughly the distance from New York to Los Angeles. In places it reaches 7 km deep and 200 km wide, dwarfing the Grand Canyon.
Hellas Planitia is the Deepest Basin on Mars
The Hellas Planitia impact basin is approximately 7.2 km deep and 2,300 km wide. At its floor, atmospheric pressure is roughly double the Martian average — making it a prime candidate for early human settlement.
Mars is Half the Size of Earth
Mars has a diameter of 6,779 km — about 53% of Earth's. Its surface area equals the total land area of all Earth's continents combined, despite being a much smaller planet.