Mars

Mars, the fourth planet from our Sun, is a captivating celestial body. Its distinctive orange-red hue, caused by the presence of iron(III) oxide dust blanketing its surface, has earned it the moniker "the Red Planet". Visible to the naked eye, Mars stands out as one of the brightest objects in Earth's night sky. This high-contrast albedo has made it a favorite target for amateur and professional astronomers alike. Classified as a terrestrial planet, Mars is the second smallest in our Solar System, with a diameter of 6,779 km (4,212 mi). Its orbital motion is unique, with a Martian solar day (sol) lasting 24.5 hours and a Martian solar year spanning 1.88 Earth years (687 Earth days). Accompanying Mars in its journey around the Sun are two small, irregularly shaped natural satellites: Phobos and Deimos.