What gives Mars its distinctive red color?

Volcanoes that constantly emit red lava A thick red atmosphere Iron oxide (rust) covering the Martian soil and rocks Its surface reflects red light from the Sun

How tall is Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system?

About 8.8 km (the same height as Mount Everest) About 21 km (roughly 3 times the height of Mount Everest) About 100 km (reaching into outer space) About 5 km (smaller than Everest)

How long is Valles Marineris, the great canyon system on Mars?

About 450 km — about the same as the Grand Canyon About 4,000 km — roughly the width of North America About 40,000 km — stretching around the entire equator About 1,000 km — roughly the length of California

What is Mars's atmosphere mainly made of?

Nitrogen and oxygen, like Earth's Hydrogen and helium, like Jupiter's Carbon dioxide, at only about 1% of Earth's atmospheric pressure Methane and ammonia, like Neptune's

What two small moons does Mars have?

Titan and Triton Charon and Nix Phobos and Deimos Io and Europa

What is the average temperature on Mars?

About 20 degrees C — similar to a mild Earth day About -60 degrees C About -200 degrees C — colder than liquid nitrogen About 100 degrees C — too hot for water to be liquid

What evidence suggests that Mars once had liquid water on its surface?

Liquid water is visible from Earth's telescopes today Ancient riverbeds, lake bed sediments, and minerals that only form in liquid water have been found by rovers and orbiters Mars has oceans hidden under its polar ice caps Mars still has rivers today during its warm summer season

What are the current active Mars rovers (as of 2024)?

Spirit and Opportunity Curiosity and Perseverance Sojourner and Curiosity Perseverance and Spirit

What do Mars's polar ice caps contain?

Only water ice — the same as Earth's ice caps Only dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) Both water ice and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) Ammonia and methane ice

What can happen to the entire Martian atmosphere during large dust storms?

Dust storms never leave Mars's equatorial region A single storm can grow large enough to engulf the entire planet for weeks or months Dust storms on Mars are much smaller and weaker than on Earth Mars has no wind and therefore no dust storms

Which feature of Mars makes it the best candidate for future human habitation in the solar system?

Mars has a breathable atmosphere for humans Mars has liquid water oceans like Earth Mars is warmer than Earth, making it easier to live there Mars has a 24.6-hour day, frozen water, and evidence of ancient habitability — making it the most Earth-like of all other planets