Astronomical OverviewMars
Fig. 4.8 Mars FieldThe red planet is a giant sand desert where huge storms occur regularly. It also has ice
caps on the poles just like the earth and several giant volcanoes. The highest one is 2 ½
times as high as the Mount Everest.
It has a thin, pink atmosphere and a deep red surface. Temperatures are between + 20
and - 140°C. It rotates around the sun in 687 days. A Martian day also takes about 24
hours. It may have had water on its surface in the past and a denser atmosphere.