Mars

Mars is the fourth planet and the furthest terrestrial planet from the Sun. The reddish color of its surface is due to finely grained iron(III) oxide dust in the soil, giving it the nickname "the Red Planet". Mars's radius is second smallest among the planets in the Solar System at 3,389.5 km (2,106 mi). The Martian dichotomy is visible on the surface: on average, the terrain on Mars's northern hemisphere is flatter and lower than its southern hemisphere. Mars has a thin atmosphere made primarily of carbon dioxide and two irregularly shaped natural satellites: Phobos and Deimos.
Geologically, Mars is fairly active, with dust devils sweeping across the landscape and marsquakes (Martian analog to earthquakes) trembling underneath the ground. The surface of Mars hosts a large shield volcano (Olympus Mons) and one of the largest canyons in the Solar System (Valles Marineris). Mars's significant orbital eccentricity and axial tilt cause large seasonal changes to the polar ice caps' coverage and temperature swings between −110 °C (−166 °F) to 35 °C (95 °F) on the surface. A Martian solar day (sol) is equal to 24.5 hours and a Martian solar year is equal to 1.88 Earth years.
Like the other planets in the Solar System, Mars was formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago. During the Noachian period from about 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago, Mars's surface was marked by meteor impacts, valley formation, erosion, and the possible presence of water oceans. The Hesperian period from 3.7 to 3.2–2 billion years ago was dominated by widespread volcanic activity and flooding that carved immense outflow channels. The Amazonian period, which continues to the present, was marked by the wind's influence on geological processes. It is unknown whether life has ever existed on Mars.
Mars is among the brightest objects in Earth's sky, and thus has been known from the ancient times. Its high-contrast albedo features make it a common subject for viewing with a telescope. Since the late 20th century, Mars has been explored by uncrewed spacecraft and rovers, with the first flyby by the Mariner 4 probe in 1965, the first Mars orbiter by the Mars 2 probe in 1971, and the first landing by Viking 1 in 1976. As of 2023, there are at least 11 active probes orbiting Mars or at the Martian surface. Currently, Mars is an attractive target for the first future interplanetary human missions.
Mars is the fourth planet of the solar system. The planet is the third most populous world in the solar system, behind Earth's Moon and Venus.
It is also home of the Free Martian Republic.
Mars.jpg 	Mars.jpg
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Astrographical 	Astrographical
System 	Sol
Orbital position 	4
Moons 	2
Rotation period 	24.6 hours
Orbital period 	1.88 earth years
Physical 	Physical
Atmosphere 	Habitable
Climate 	Terraformed (ongoing)
Gravity 	0.38 g
Primary terrain 	rocky, desert
Surface water 	Polar ice caps melting
Points of interest	Ares IV Landing Zone
Societal 	Societal
Government 	Martian
Population 	2,516,830 inhabitants (2160 census)
Major cities 	Lowell City, Barsoom
Major exports 	Iron, starship construction tools, etc
Affiliation 	GOC
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== History of manned exploration ==
In the 2020s and 2030s, private companies exploited the planet for its habitability. And rapidly grew in to be a home to more than 2 1/2 million humans in the 2110s. The planet was a major battlefront during the Belt Wars from 2114 until 2121.
== Human establishments and settlements ==
# Lowell City (Martian capital city)
# Charles Brubaker Mars Outpost (home of the Capricorns Baseball team)
# Barsoom (Martian province)
Category:Planets
Category:Solar System
Category:Earth outposts