Mars
planet
A cold desert world with a thin atmosphere; iron oxides in its soil give it the reddish colour. Every 26 months Mars comes to opposition — by far the best time to observe it.
Data
- Type
- planet
- Equatorial radius
- 3,390 km
- Orbital period
- 687 days
- Rotation period
- 24.6 h
- Distance
- 1.52 AU
- Moons
- 2
Observing tip
Surface markings and the polar cap need a 150 mm telescope and only show near opposition, when the disc exceeds 15″.