Mars' core has a radius of about 1300 miles and is primarily made up of iron and nickel. It is surrounded by a silicate mantle which is responsible for forming the dormant volcanoes we see on the surface today. The most abundant elements in the Martian crust are iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, and potassium.

The solar system was formed from a giant rotating ball of gas and dust known as the pre-solar nebula. These contents combined to form spheres called proto-planets. Mars, which began as a protoplanet, eventually became the 4th planet from the sun and what we now call home!

The temperature on mars is about -80 degrees Fahrenheit and in the winter it can go below -195 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring is the longest season, lasting a total of 194 days. Autumn in the north is the shortest of the seasons, lasting only 142 days. Winter and summer are the intermediate seasons and last around 154 days and 170 days, respectively.

Mars is famous for its large, planet-wide dust storms. Although Mars has a thin atmosphere, it can still generate strong winds. When these winds pick up fine, dry particles of dust, a dangerous dust storm can occur. Most dust storms only occupy a small area for only a few days, but others can sometimes cover the majority of the planet. These winds can carry these small particles of debris at speeds of 33 to 66 miles per hour, making them extremely dangerous.

The composition of the Martian atmosphere differs greatly from Earth's. Earth's atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1.0% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. It also averages about 1% water vapor. Mars' atmosphere however is 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and it has traces of oxygen, carbon monoxide, water, methane, and other gases, along with a lot of dust.

• Mars is named after the Roman God of war.
• In Mars' opposition, Mars and the Sun are on directly opposite sides of the Earth.
• Mars, in addition to Earth, is the only other planet that has polar ice caps.
• Thanks to its reddish Appearance, Mars can be spotted using the naked eye.
• There is a 66% success rate for past missions to Mars.

Mars is 35.8 million miles away when it is closest to Earth and 249.1 million miles away at its furthest. As Mars orbits the Sun, it completes one rotation every 24.6 hours. Martian days are called sols – short for "solar day." A year on Mars lasts 669.6 sols, which is the same as 687 Earth days.

Mars has two small moons: Phobos and Deimos. Phobos (fear) and Deimos (panic) were named after the horses that pulled the chariot of the Greek war god Ares, the counterpart to the Roman war god Mars.

Terraforming must be used in order to shape Mars to be more suitable for humanity in the future. Creating an oxygen-rich atmosphere will help support plant life and also support water-based ecosystems. In hundreds of years, humans may not even need oxygen masks to breathe on Mars!

• Large orbital mirrors that will reflect sunlight and heat the Mars surface.

• Greenhouse gas-producing factories to trap solar radiation.

• Smashing ammonia-heavy asteroids into the planet to raise the greenhouse gas level.