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In the night sky, Mars appears as a bright point of light with a distinct orange hue. This small rocky planet is approximately half the size of Earth but only about one-tenth of its mass. Compared to Earth, Mars is much colder and drier. Its thin atmosphere, composed mainly of carbon dioxide, results in very low surface pressure. With large telescopes and space probes, we can observe the planet's changing weather patterns, such as the formation and melting of its polar ice caps and the occurrence of huge sandstorms. The surface of Mars features solidified lava flows, impact craters and sand dunes, but also evidence of glaciers and ancient riverbeds. While water may have once flowed abundantly on Mars, this was only in its distant past, several billion years ago. Beneath nearly the entire surface of the planet, traces of water ice have been discovered. Local permafrost may extend to depths of several kilometers. Mars is orbited by two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are probably captured asteroids.
