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Facts about Red Color

Mars probably got the nickname, The Red Planet, due to the rusty color of its soil, which is comprised of iron-rich minerals. The Egyptians called it the red one because it appears more reddish in the night sky.

The simple explanation for the Red Planet's color is that its regolith, or surface material, contains lots of iron oxide — the same compound that gives blood and rust their hue. But why does Mars have so much iron, why is that iron "oxidized," and why does iron oxide look red?Aug 8, 2012