Mars was named by the Romans for their god of war because its reddish color was reminiscent of blood. The Egyptians called it “Her Desher,” meaning “the red one.” Even today, it is frequently called the “Red Planet” because iron minerals in the Martian dirt oxidize, or rust, causing the surface to look red.
refers to the fact that Mars, often called the Red Planet, was once a watery planet with evidence of ancient oceans, rivers, and even potentially a vast sea in its northern hemisphere. While Mars is now known for its red, rusty soil and arid landscape, scientific evidence suggests it had a wetter, potentially habitable past.
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