How Much Do You Know About the Red Planet? 你对火星了解多少？

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Named after the Roman god of war， Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system.

Mars is also known as the “Red Planet” because it’s red！ This signature color comes from the large amount of a chemical called iron oxide （or “rust”） in its rocks and soil.

Mars is the second smallest planet in the solar system after Mercury. With a diameter （distance through the middle） of 6，800 kilometers， it’s roughly half the size of Earth.

It can get pretty cold on Mars—much colder than our own planet， since it’s further away from the Sun. At the equator， temperatures can reach 20°C， but at its poles they can plummet to as low as -143°C.

Mars is home to the highest mountain in our solar system—a volcano called Olympus Mons. Standing a whopping 24 kilometers high， it’s about three times the height of Mount Qomolangma！

火星是以罗马战神的名字命名的，它是太阳系中的第四颗行星。（剩余1722字）