Mars Facts for Kids

Mars, or the 'Red Planet' as it is sometimes known, has a dusty, rocky surface and a thin atmosphere. Its relatively calm conditions and close proximity to earth make it the most likely destination for future planet exploration by humans.

It has already been visited by a number of Mars Rovers in successful (and unsuccessful) robotic missions. These highly advanced robots gather samples and record important scientific data for scientists back on Earth to study.

• Mars experiences violent dust storms which continually change its surface.

• Mars has many massive volcanoes and is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in our solar system, it stands 21km high and is 600km across the base.

• Mars has a very thin atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide. It is not thick enough to trap the sun's heat like Venus, so the planet is very cold. Temperatures range from -120 Degrees Celsius on winter nights to 25 Degrees Celsius in the summer.

• Mars has many channels, plains and canyons on the surface which could have been caused by water erosion in the past.

• Mars has very weak gravity which cannot hold onto the atmosphere well.

• The polar ice caps consist of frozen Co2 (dry ice) which lies over a layer of ice.