Mars and Satellites
| Mean distance from Sun: | 1.524 AU (228,000,000 km/141,700,000 mi) |
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| Diameter: | 6,792 km (4,220 mi) | |
| Length of year: | 687 days | |
| Rotation period: | 24 hr 37 min | |
| Mean orbital velocity: | 24.14 km/sec (15 mi/sec) | |
| Inclination of axis: | 25.2° | |
| Mean density: | 3.95 grams/cm³ | |
| Inclination to ecliptic: | 1.85° | |
| Number of observed satellites: | 2 | |
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Comparisons with Earth:
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| Average distance from Sun: | 1.52 x Earth | |
| Diameter: | 0.532 x Earth | |
| Mass: | 0.108 x Earth | |
| Density: | 0.7 x Earth | |
| Mars is orbited by two small, potato-shaped satellites, Phobos and Deimos. These tiny Martian satellites are thought to be captured asteroids composed of dark, carbon-rich rock. Each satellite has been heavily cratered by impacting meteoritic debris. |
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Phobos Viking Orbiter Image |
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Viking Orbiter Image |
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All information and images on this page were obtained from the National Air and Space Museum.