Mars

Mars, the Red Planet, is the fourth planet from the sun.

Related Topics: Curiosity Mars Rover Mission, ExoMars, India Mars Orbiter Mission, Mars Rover Opportunity, Maven Mars Mission 

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Mars reappears from behind the moon after a rare occultation on Dec. 7, 2022 in this telescope view from the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California.

Rare Mars eclipse by the full moon wows stargazers with occultation (video)

By Brett Tingley published

On Wednesday (Dec. 7), skywatchers around the world were treated to a celestial show as the full moon eclipsed Mars at opposition in the night sky.

A image taken by NASA's Perseverance rover shows two holes drilled to collect samples of regolith in early December.

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover bottles up 1st dirt samples

By Robert Lea published

NASA's most advanced robotic geologist to date has collected its first samples of broken rocks and dust from the Red Planet's surface.

A dust devil on Mars seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2012.

With eyes on Mars, NASA algorithm tackles dust devils on Earth

By Stefanie Waldek published

On Mars, dust devils can have both positive and negative impacts on robotic exploration on the planet.

A photograph of Mars at opposition in the night sky.

See Mars at opposition join the full moon in the sky tonight (Dec. 7)

By Robert Lea published

On Wednesday (Dec. 7), Mars appears opposite the sun in the night sky in opposition, appearing much larger in the night sky than usual and offering skywatchers an excellent chance to observe it.

Mars close to the moon approaching an occultation.

What time will the full moon eclipse Mars on Dec. 7?

By Brett Tingley published

A bright Mars at opposition will disappear behind the moon on Wednesday (Dec. 7), but exactly when you should look up depends on where you are.

(Main) An illustration of galactic cosmic rays. (Right top) An illustration of the Mars Express and (right bottom) Venus Express spacecraft.

Solar cycle peak reduces cosmic rays around Mars, Venus and Earth

By Robert Lea published

Measurements taken at Earth's neighbors, Mars and Venus, show the battle between high-energy cosmic rays from beyond the solar system and the influence of the sun in the inner solar system.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter captured this image on Dec. 3, 2022, during its 35th Red Planet flight.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity soars higher than ever on 35th Red Planet flight

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Mars Ingenuity helicopter set a new altitude record on Sunday (Dec. 3), getting 46 feet (14 meters) up on its 35th Red Planet flight.

An illustration of the night sky on Dec. 07 showing the full Cold Moon occulting Mars.

See Mars at its best at opposition tonight in these free telescope webcasts

By Brett Tingley last updated

This week offers multiple opportunities to get a great look at Mars thanks to several livestreams of Red Planet astronomical events.

A view from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter of a landslide in Cerberus Fossae on Mars.

Mars sports massive hidden plume of searing rock

By Charles Q. Choi published

A plume of searing hot rock as wide as the continental U.S. is rising up from near the core of Mars and might help explain recent volcanism and earthquakes seen at the Red Planet, scientists say.

An illustration of the night sky on Dec. 07 showing the full Cold Moon occulting Mars.

Mars at opposition will meet up with the full moon next week (Dec. 7). Here's how to see it

By Joe Rao published

The full moon will appear in very close proximity to a brilliant Mars in the evening of Wednesday (Dec. 7) as the Red Planet reaches opposition.

A view from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter of a crater on Mars that formed in 2012.

Megatsunami swept over Mars after massive asteroid hit the Red Planet

By Charles Q. Choi published

A Martian megatsunami may have raced across the Red Planet after a cosmic impact similar to the one that likely ended Earth's age of dinosaurs, a new study finds.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover watches a rocket carrying some of its collected samples launch from the Red Planet's surface in this still from a NASA/ESA animation.

Here's how NASA and Europe will bring Mars samples back to Earth (video)

By Andrew Jones published

A new video shows how a team of NASA and European Space Agency spacecraft plan to relay Martian rock samples to Earth.

Mars closest to earth

See Mars at its closest to Earth for 2022 in the night sky tonight (Nov. 30)

By Robert Lea published

Wednesday (Nov. 30) offers an excellent opportunity for skywatchers to observe Mars when the Red Planet will be at its closest to Earth, appearing bigger and brighter in the sky.

An image of the Mars surface taken by the Ingenuity helicopter's navigation camera during a flight testing out a new software system on Nov. 22, 2022.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity aces 1st flight after major software update

By Tereza Pultarova published

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity has performed its shortest flight ever, the first after a major software update that will allow the chopper to land more safely and navigate over rugged terrain.

A still from "Good Night Oppy" showing Opportunity Mars rover sliding down a crater.

Mars rover documentary 'Good Night Oppy' now streaming on Prime Video

By Jeff Spry published

"Good Night Oppy" finally arrives on Amazon's Prime Video streaming service on Wednesday (Nov. 23), just in time for holiday viewing over the long Thanksgiving Day weekend.

a robotic arm in the foreground, a reddish brown rocky landscape in the background

NASA's Perseverance rover opens a window to Mars' watery past

By Briley Lewis published

The Perseverance rover is approaching its one-year anniversary since landing on Feb. 18, 2021 — one Mars year, that is.

NASA's Opportunity rover, as recreated by the artists at Industrial Light & Magic, stars in "Good Night Oppy," director Ryan White's new documentary streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

'Good Night Oppy' explores human side of robotic rover's life on Mars

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Ryan White did not set out to make a tearjerker, yet audiences watching "Good Night Oppy" may want to have tissues ready. "Not a chance in hell did I think this would be as emotional," White said.

An artist's impression of an ancient Mars rich in water.

Mars' water may have come from ancient asteroid impacts

By Keith Cooper published

Isotopic evidence points to carbonaceous chondrite asteroids bringing enough water to Mars that it could have formed a global ocean some 1,000 feet deep.

view down at cracked, rocky surface, with one wheel visible at left of image

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover hunts tantalizing bedrock that could hide evidence of life

By Robert Lea published

Continuing its mission to search for signs of ancient life on Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover has reached Jezero Crater's Yori Pass.

one large red planet accompanied by two very small moons

Mars may be slowly ripping its largest moon apart

By Harry Baker published

A new study has revealed that the weird parallel grooves on the surface of Mars' largest moon Phobos could be a sign that the Red Planet's gravity is ripping the satellite apart.