Key Takeaways:
- Mars is uniquely characterized by a noticeable color when observed through a medium-sized telescope, distinguishing it from other naked-eye planets.
- While commonly referred to as the the "Red Planet," its perceived coloration is accurately described as orange.
- The planet's distinctive hue originates from several types of iron oxides that blanket its surface.
- Specific iron oxides contributing to Mars' color include hematite, ferrihydrite, and goethite.
The Hubble Space Telescope took this image of Mars.
NASA/J. Bell-Cornell University/SSI-M. Wolff
Of the five naked-eye planets, only Mars has a noticeable color through a medium-sized telescope. And, although we refer to it as the Red Planet, your perception of it as orange is correct. Mars’ color originates from several types of iron oxides (including hematite, ferrihydrite, and goethite) that blanket the planet’s surface.
