The atmospheric pressure on the surface of Mars is nearly one- hundredth that on earth. The annual average temperature on Mars is minus 20°. During summer, at the equator, the day time temperature is as high as 30° and at night, it falls below minus 50°. The biggest volcanic mountain on Mars, Olympus Mons is nearly three times as high as Mount Everest.The surface is filled with rocks and the sky is pinkish in colour. The rocks on Mars are found to be more similar to the rocks on earth than the moon rocks. There are huge craters, and sand dunes and features resembling dry river beds. There are huge canal like features stretching across thousands of kilometers.
A day on Mars is about the same duration as on earth,i.e nearly 24 hours, but the year on Mars is nearly twice than on earth. The red colour of Mars is due to iron oxide found in abundance on its surface. There are polar ice caps, somewhat similar to those on earth. they grow during winter and shrink during summer. There are plans to bring back Martian rocks to earth in the year 2005. But the pinnacle of Martian exploration will reach when man will land on Mars.
