Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. Its surface is dusty and dry, with iron oxide giving it a reddish appearance. It features polar ice caps, huge volcanoes including Olympus Mons, and the Valles Marineris canyon system. It is a focus of intense study for potential past life and future human exploration.
The Inner Solar System consists of the four terrestrial planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—orbiting within the Asteroid Belt, all composed primarily of rock and metal.