The average temperature on Mars is -80 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature on Mars can fluctuate greatly due to the planet's inability to retain heat energy. Temperatures can reach up to 70 F at the equator during a summer day and as low as -195 F at the poles during a winter night.
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the second smallest in the solar system. It is known as the "red planet" due to the large amounts of iron oxide on its surface, giving Mars a red appearance.
Mars has an atmosphere consisting of 95 percent carbon dioxide. Its atmosphere is 100 times thinner than the atmosphere of Earth. The atmosphere, plus its distance from the sun, makes Mars on average a very cold planet.
