THE FOURTH PLANET FROM THE SUN AND
THE SECOND-SMALLEST PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
MARS CARRIES THE NAME OF THE ROMAN GOD OF WAR
AND IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE "RED PLANET". THE
LATTER REFERS TO THE EFFECT OF THE IRON OXIDE
PREVALENT ON MARS'S SURFACE, WHICH GIVES IT A REDDISH
APPEARANCE DISTINCTIVE AMONG THE ASTRONOMICAL
BODIES VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE.
MARS IS A TERRESTRIAL PLANET
WITH A THIN ATMOSPHERE,
WITH SURFACE FEATURES REMINISCENT OF THE IMPACT
CRATERS OF THE MOON AND THE VALLEYS, DESERTS AND
POLAR ICE CAPS OF EARTH.
TRAVELERS OF THE FUTURE, BEWARE! MARS IS NO PLACE
FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED.
ARID, ROCKY, COLD AND APPARENTLY LIFELESS, THE RED
PLANET OFFERS FEW HOSPITALITIES. FANS OF EXTREME
SPORTS CAN REJOICE, HOWEVER, FOR THE RED PLANET
WILL CHALLENGE EVEN THE HARDIEST SOULS AMONG US.
HOME TO THE LARGEST VOLCANO IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
THE DEEPEST CANYON AND CRAZY WEATHER AND
TEMPERATURE PATTERNS, MARS LOOMS AS THE
ULTIMATE LONELY PLANET DESTINATION
