Mars

Mars is a planet in the solar system and is the 4th closest planet to the sun. The distance from the sun to Mars is over 141 million miles. Mars is the 7^th largest planet in the solar system, which makes Mars the 2nd smallest planet in the solar system. Mars is one of the four planets in the solar system that is a rocky planet. These rocky planets are called ‘Terrestrial Planets’  

It’s not known exactly when Mars was discovered and by whom as Mars has been known for a very long time, and is one of the planets that can be seen from Earth without a telescope. 

Mars’s orbit around the sun is the 4th fastest orbit of all the solar system planets. Mars is red in color and is very cold. Not the coldest of planets in the solar system but very cold all the same. The temperature on Mars is on average -80 degrees, and can get a lot colder at times.

At times in the summer near the Mars can reach 70 degrees. You may think it’s warm enough to live, however the atmosphere is very thin with carbon dioxide over 95%. Mars orbits the sun in 687 days, which means 1 Earth year on Mars is 687 days.

Kids Fun Facts Corner

# 1. 1 Mars would fit into the Earth.

# 2. The Sun looks half the size on Mars as it looks on Earth.

# 3. Mars has 2 moons.

# 4. Mars doesn’t have any rings.

# 5. Mars has the largest Volcano in the Solar System called Olympus Mons.

Q&A Corner

Q. What is the distance from the sun to Mars?

Q. What is the average temperature on Mars?

Q. How long does it take for Mars to orbit the Sun?

Download questions about Mars here: Mars (answers are on this page)

Teachers. Fore more in depth work sheets on Mars. Click on Kidskonnect. Worksheets

For further reading and more information on Mars visit http://www.planetsforkids.org