Mars planet: Mars is the fourth planet

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun , orbiting at an average of 228 million kilometres away from the star. The planet moves at a speed of around 24 kilometres per second, making it slightly slower than Earth. It has an elliptical orbit, meaning it is egg- or oval-shaped. Learn about Mars , the red-colored planet with two moons and diverse geological features. Find out its history, size, orbit, atmosphere, temperature, and potential for life. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the " Red Planet ", for its orange-red appearance. [22][23] Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous atmosphere that is primarily carbon dioxide (CO2). Mars Facts Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and last of the terrestrial planets . Like the rest of the planets in the solar system (except Earth), Mars is named after a mythological figure - the Roman god of war. In addition to its official name, Mars is sometimes called the Red Planet because of the brownish-red color of its surface. Mars is the second smallest planet in the solar system behind Mercury.