: Mars is currently the only known planet in the universe entirely inhabited by robots. From veterans like Curiosity to the life-hunting Perseverance , these mechanical explorers are busy uncovering secrets of ancient lakes and organic molecules .
Here are some of the most mind-blowing facts about our potential future home: Red Planet
Mars, our "Red Planet" neighbor, is far more than just a rusty rock in the sky. While its iconic crimson glow comes from iron oxide—literally rust —covering its surface, the world beneath the dust is a land of extremes. : Mars is currently the only known planet
: Thanks to its smaller size, gravity on Mars is only about 38% of Earth's . This means you could jump three times higher than you can right now! While its iconic crimson glow comes from iron
: If you stood on the Martian surface at dusk, you’d witness a blue sunset . Because of the way fine dust in the atmosphere scatters light, the colors are the reverse of Earth: pinkish-red skies during the day and a blue glow around the sun as it sets.
: The Valles Marineris canyon system stretches for 2,500 miles—nearly the width of Australia . In some places, it plunges 6 miles deep , dwarfing Earth’s Grand Canyon.