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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a person looks at the night sky through a telescope

The brightest planets in December's night sky: How to see them (and when)

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference During December, Jupiter dominates the evening sky, while Venus continues to serve as a beacon in the predawn morning sky.

the blackness of space above the horizon of a grayish-red planet

Here's what astronauts in orbit around Mars would see from their spacecraft

By Samantha Mathewson published

New images from NASA's Mars Odyssey Orbiter capture what the Red Planet would look like from the vantage point of a spacecraft orbiting the Red Planet.

a set of industrial beams provide a frame to hold dual rotor blades for a spin test in a black enclosed chamber.

The Mars helicopter Ingenuity is an amazing success. NASA's already testing tech for the next generation (video)

By Josh Dinner published

While NASA tested new Mars helicopter technology on Earth, Ingenuity was breaking records flying across the Martian surface.

a golden rover and dark-colored lander sit on the red martian surface, with a dusty reddish-brown sky in the background.

Chinese scientists build model Mars atmosphere to aid sample-return plans

By Andrew Jones published

Chinese scientists have constructed a numerical model to simulate the Martian atmosphere and thus assist the country's plans to return rock samples from the Red Planet.

a blue sky shows a small mars near the sun

Say goodbye to Mars! The Red Planet hides behind the sun for 2 weeks

By Robert Lea published

Mars will disappear from the sky for a few weeks on Saturday (Nov. 18), moving to the opposite side of the sun as seen from Earth during the Red Planet’s period of solar conjunction.

a greenish glow can be seen behind a spacecraft with two large solar panels above Mars

Mars probe sees Red Planet atmosphere glowing green at night

By Stefanie Waldek published

Using ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, scientists have observed nightglow in Mars' atmosphere, a phenomenon where the night sky glows green, almost like an aurora.

nasa's perseverance mars rover eyes the tiny ingenuity helicopter, which is resting on reddish, rocky ground a few feet away from it.

NASA's Mars robots are on their own right now — here's why

By Mike Wall published

NASA has stopped sending commands to its Mars missions for two weeks, but that doesn't mean the robotic explorers are taking a vacation.

A spectacular example of gullies on Mars, at roughly 71 degrees latitude in the southern hemisphere.

AI chemist finds molecule to make oxygen on Mars after sifting through millions

By Charles Q. Choi published

Scientists want to split Martian water to make oxygen. They're employing AI to light the way.

swirlies and bubles float about a chaotic space picture with a clip-art style satellite

Mars, Earth, or deep space? ESA narrows down finalists for a future space mission

By Robert Lea published

After a rigorous selection process, ESA has arrived at three medium-sized space mission ideas for the future. Before the winner is selected, read on to decide your favorite.

a large, metallic mars rover sits on the red dirt, with small hills in the background.

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover celebrates 4,000 'sols' on the Red Planet

By Elizabeth Howell published

As NASA's Curiosity rover passes 4,000 'sols,' or Martian days, on the Red Planet, a Space.com reporter who began work in 2012 reflects on what that means.

an assortment of different city buildings are built underground on mars.

Book excerpt: 'A City on Mars'

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Kelly and Zach Weinersmith discuss important unanswered questions about human space settlement in their new book, A City on Mars.

a glass dome on a barren red landscape features a chute leading underground. the sky is black and full of stars.

'A City on Mars' is a reality check for anyone dreaming about life on the Red Planet

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Ecologist Kelly Weinersmith discusses important unanswered questions about human space settlement in her new book, "A City on Mars."

a photo looking down at a sandy patch of martian ground, with boulders strewn near the top of the frame.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flies on back-to-back days to prep for 'solar conjunction' (video)

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter just made its 65th and 66th Mars flights, two short hops that positioned the chopper properly for the coming 'solar conjunction.'

a red planet on the left; on the right are two graphs showing the brightness of clouds observed in Mars' atmosphere

Citizen scientists detect patterns in clouds over Mars

By Robert Lea published

The Cloudspotting team used data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to observe when and where water and carbon dioxide clouds cluster over the Red Planet.

a man in a black polo shirt stands in front of a life-size model of nasa's perseverance mars rover

Perseverance pastry: Celebrity chef Duff Goldman makes Mars rover cake

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

As it turns out, it takes a good deal of planning, patience and, well, Perseverance, to create a cake in the shape of a NASA Mars rover. Just ask Duff Goldman.

a gold-foil-covered spacecraft on the surface of a rocky moon

New Japanese spacecraft aims to explore the mysterious moons of Mars

By Leonard David published

Japan's planned Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft mission involves drilling and sampling Mars' moon Phobos, then rocketing the samples to Earth.

A map of Mars that's in grayscale. The blue areas show where there's likely water ice. Lots of the blue areas area found at the top, away from the equator, but there are some small regions lower down.

New map of ice on Mars could help NASA decide where to send future astronauts

By Rahul Rao published

The NASA-funded SWIM project aims to detect where there's most likely water ice beneath Martian ground. Here's why.

An artist's illustration of the center of Mars

Thanks to a layer of molten rock, Mars' core appears bigger than it is

By Charles Q. Choi published

Scientists have wondered why Mars' core can be so big and light at the same time. Two new studies might have an explanation.

a wheeled robot with a camera on a stalk rolls around in red dirt

Curiosity rover discovers new evidence Mars once had 'right conditions' for life

By Keith Cooper published

Thanks to NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, geologists have discovered evidence for ancient rivers on the Red Planet hiding in plain sight, suggesting the planet once had the right conditions for life.

view from above of boulder-studded, reddish martian sand dunes, with a sliver of blue-gray sky in the upper left corner.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter aces longest Mars flight in 18 months

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter traveled 1,901 feet (579 meters) during its 63rd Mars flight, which took place last Thursday (Oct. 19).