Mars (nonfiction)

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, after Mercury.

Named after the Roman god of war, it is often referred to as the "Red Planet" because the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance.

Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth.

The rotational period and seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar to those of Earth, as is the tilt that produces the seasons.

Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are small and irregularly shaped. These may be captured asteroids, similar to 5261 Eureka, a Mars trojan.

Fiction cross-reference

• Dennis Paulson of Mars - a popular reality television show.

Nonfiction cross-reference

External links:

• Mars @ Wikipedia