Mars Science
The geology, atmosphere, water, and chemistry of the Red Planet.
Science Articles
The Geology of Mars: What Rocks Tell Us About a Dead Planet
Mars may be geologically quiet today, but its rocks preserve billions of years of planetary history. Here's what rovers, orbiters,…
Mars Dust Devils: Beautiful, Dangerous, and Everywhere
Mars dust devils are towering vortices that dwarf anything on Earth, reshaping the planet's surface and threatening spacecraft. Here's what…
How Long is a Day on Mars? Time, Calendars, and Life on the Red Planet
A Martian day — called a sol — lasts 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35 seconds. Here's how that small…
The Moons of Mars: Phobos, Deimos, and Their Strange Orbits
Mars has two small, misshapen moons with orbits unlike anything else in the solar system. Here's what we know about…
What Would Mars Sound Like? The Science of Sound on Another Planet
Mars has an atmosphere, which means it can carry sound — but not the way Earth does. Here's what science…
The Mars Methane Mystery: Life, Geology, or Something Else?
Mars keeps releasing small but puzzling bursts of methane — a gas that shouldn't last long in the Martian atmosphere.…
NASA APOD: 3I/ATLAS
Discovered on July 1 with the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, 3I/ATLAS…
NASA APOD: Mars: Looking For Viking
On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 lander touched down on the Martian Chryse Planitia. Its exact landing site is…
Mars Terraforming: Could We Actually Do It?
Terraforming Mars is a compelling idea with serious scientific proposals behind it — but the energy requirements, timescales, and ethical…
Why Mars Lost Its Water — And What That Means for Life
Mars was once a wet, potentially habitable world. Understanding how it lost its oceans and atmosphere — and what remains…
How Mars Dust Would Kill You (And How to Survive It)
Mars dust is far more dangerous than it looks. From toxic perchlorates to lung-shredding particles, here's what the science says…
How the Sabatier Reaction Could Power Mars Colonization
The Sabatier reaction converts Martian CO2 and hydrogen into methane rocket fuel and water. Here's how this century-old chemistry could…
Facts at a Glance
A Mars Year is About Two Earth Years
Mars takes 686.97 Earth days to complete one orbit. Earth and Mars align for efficient travel only once every 26 months, making launch windows precious for mission planners.
Ingenuity Made First Powered Flight on Another Planet
On April 19, 2021, NASA's Ingenuity helicopter hovered for 39 seconds on Mars — the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. It carried fabric from the Wright Brothers' original Flyer.
Temperatures Swing Wildly
Surface temperatures on Mars range from about -195°F (-125°C) at the poles in winter to about 70°F (20°C) near the equator on a summer afternoon. The thin atmosphere means these swings can occur within a single day.
Mars Has Two Tiny Moons
Phobos and Deimos are Mars's two small, irregularly shaped moons, likely captured asteroids. Phobos orbits so close to Mars that it completes an orbit in just 7 hours 39 minutes — faster than Mars rotates — and will eventually crash into the planet in roughly 50 million years.
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.
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.