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Mars in a Minute: Is Mars Really Red?

59 seconds

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Mars definitely has a reddish tint, and even the ancient Egyptians called Mars “The Red One.” Where does the redness come from? The rocks on Mars are full of iron, and the dust from those rocks swirls around the atmosphere, which makes the planet appear red. Part of the “Mars in a Minute” series.

Media Details

Runtime: 59 seconds

Illustration of people in ancient Egyptian dress pointing over pyramids into the night sky. Caption: Even the ancient Egyptians called Mars "The Red One."
Mars in a Minute
Episode 1
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
How do you land on Mars? Caption: Very carefully.
Mars in a Minute
Episode 2
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Illustration of the Sun, Earth, and Mars. Caption: the planets are in perfect positions to get to Mars
Mars in a Minute
Episode 2
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Diagram of the atmosphere above a planet's surface. A ship passes through the atmosphere at 13,000 mph and deposits a rover at 0 mph. Caption: we have to slow down from 13,000 miles an hour to zero.
Mars in a Minute
Episode 4
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Illustration of a split screen showing a robot with wheels on the surface of a red planet and people at a computer. Caption: engineers send computer commands overnight,
Mars in a Minute
Episode 5
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Illustration concentric circles with the Sun in the center and then Earth and Mars. Caption: In orbit, Mars is about 50 million miles farther away
Mars in a Minute
Episode 6
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Illustration of a robot with wheels on the surface of a reddish-brown planet. Caption: If Curiosity finds organics, it wouldn't prove life existed,
Mars in a Minute
Episode 7
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Illustration concentric circles with the Sun in the center and then Earth and Mars. Caption: Earth and Mars wind up on opposite sides of the sun.
Mars in a Minute
Episode 8
59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12