Top 10 Most Common Questions About Mars That Kids Ask and How to Answer Them Scientifically

Say to the child: There are storms on Mars, but they are not like the storms we have on Earth. Mars experiences enormous, dangerous dust storms. These dust storms can lift tiny dust particles that float through the atmosphere, and clouds can form when these particles attract condensation. These clouds can form very high up, reaching up to 100 kilometers above the planet's surface.

What you should know: Mars is the planet that can generate the largest, most destructive dust storms in our solar system. In 1971, the Mariner 9 spacecraft sent images of the Red Planet to Earth, but they were blurry due to a massive dust storm. It wasn't until a month later, when the superstorm ended, that Mariner 9 was able to send clear images of Mars back to Earth. Scientists still can't fully explain why the dust storms on Mars last so long and are so intense. However, it's known that sunlight provides the necessary energy to create these massive dust storms. In theory, dust particles in the Martian atmosphere absorb sunlight. The dust layer, combined with wind, raises the temperature, which may trigger these violent and prolonged superstorms. This might be difficult for adults to understand, but if you simplify the atmosphere to clouds for the child, they'll have a clearer mental image of the situation.

Say to the child: As you know, Mars is a red planet. When we see it in cartoons, it often looks like a flat ball with nothing special about it, but in reality, this planet is quite rugged. The Red Planet is a combination of two hemispheres. The northern hemisphere has a low and flat surface, while the southern hemisphere is bumpy and rugged, featuring many volcanoes and craters.

What you should know: NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover recently sent back invaluable data regarding Mars' surface, giving humanity the clearest view ever of the Red Planet. Mars' surface is a mix of two hemispheres: the northern hemisphere is flat and low, while the southern hemisphere is rough and mountainous, with numerous volcanoes and craters. The crust of the southern hemisphere is thicker than that of the northern hemisphere. Recent evidence suggests that the difference between the two hemispheres resulted from an ancient collision between Mars and a massive space rock. Since the child is only learning basic concepts such as geometry and describing things they can see around them, using simple terms like flat and rugged will help them understand the concept much better.

Say to the child: Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, which is three times higher than Earth's Mount Everest. In addition to Olympus Mons, Mars is home to a dense system of volcanoes. According to scientists, the craters show many geological signs that suggest past low-pressure events and earthquakes, along with dark sand dunes that may have originated from volcanic eruptions. The supervolcano, with a crater up to 100 km wide, is believed to be one of the 'forces' that transformed Mars into the dry planet we see today.

What you should know: Previous studies show that Mars was once a 'blue planet' like Earth, with oceans covering most of its surface. Life may have existed during that time. However, a disaster, estimated to have occurred over 3 billion years ago, significantly changed the planet's climate. Scientists believe this catastrophe was caused by massive volcanic eruptions that released huge amounts of ash and lava. Mars has Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system, which is three times the height of Mount Everest. In addition to Olympus Mons, Mars has a dense network of volcanoes. Scientists suggest that the reason Mars has so many large volcanoes is because its tectonic plates or crust rarely move. It's better not to overwhelm the child with too many details, as it might be too difficult for them to understand. Instead, share more general knowledge about the topic to keep them engaged.

Say to the child: Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are believed to be asteroids that were captured by the planet's gravity. Both moons were discovered in 1877 by astronomer Asaph Hall, and they were named after characters in Greek mythology: Phobos (fear) and Deimos (terror/death), the companions of their father, Ares (also known as Mars in Roman mythology), the god of war, during battles.

What you should know: Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. These moons were discovered in 1877 by American astronomer Asaph Hall, who confirmed their existence after years of research, although their presence had been suspected earlier. Phobos is much larger than Deimos and orbits Mars at a distance of 9,378 km. This moon completes an orbit around Mars three times a day, and according to NASA scientists, it is gradually moving closer to the Red Planet at a rate of 1.8 meters per century. This means that in just 50 million years, a collision between Phobos and Mars will occur. Explaining this using characters from superhero movies is a great way to help the child understand, as they might not yet grasp the concept of moons.

Say to the child: Mars has always been one of the most fascinating planets ever since humans first discovered it. It is believed that Mars once had oceans as deep as 3,000 meters. In 2015, scientists excitedly announced that water still exists on Mars. They confirmed that a spacecraft orbiting Mars detected signs of liquid leaks along the cracks of Martian volcanoes. Additionally, the discovery of salt in these liquid flows confirmed the presence of salty water. In short, we have found evidence of water on Mars, but we haven’t yet found any proof of rivers or lakes there, my dear!

What you need to know: Scientists discovered carbon and clay—evidence of water’s presence—on Mars' McLaughlin crater. Moreover, the Mars Express satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA) detected sedimentary deposits on the Martian surface, providing proof that an ocean existed on the planet billions of years ago. Dr. Jeremie Mouginot of the University of California believes that the water on Mars either evaporated or turned into ice, lying deep beneath the Red Planet's surface. Space research can be complex, so simplifying it and adding extra context will make it easier for the child to understand.

Say to the child: The possibility of life on Mars is a fascinating topic in astrobiology, due to the planet's proximity and similarities to Earth. To date, no evidence has been found to confirm the existence of life on Mars. However, accumulating evidence suggests that Mars' ancient environment had water, and it may have supported microbial life. The presence of conditions for life doesn’t necessarily mean that life itself ever existed there.

What you need to know: The first successful landing on Mars was by NASA’s Viking 1 spacecraft. Viking 1 detected organic molecules like methyl chloride and dichloromethane. However, scientists dismissed these compounds, believing they were cleaning fluids used by the spacecraft while still on Earth. Researchers believe Mars once had oceans, leading many to wonder if life ever developed there. If this question could be answered, it might help unravel the mystery of life elsewhere in the universe. We don’t need to go into too much detail for the child, as it may be difficult for them to grasp. Instead, sharing additional information around the topic will make it more interesting for them.

Say to the child: In many science fiction movies, you will see that people set up long-term bases on the Moon or Mars, so they need to figure out how to produce their own food. However, no one has managed to bring seeds to Mars to plant. We’ve only managed to build a special model for growing plants with simulated soil, similar to what we might use on the Moon or Mars. Surprisingly, it turns out that nearly 10 different types of plants can grow.

What you need to know: There are significant questions about how to produce water and the potential risks from cosmic radiation, but most importantly, there is the issue of food. To answer these questions, researchers from the Netherlands have made some surprising discoveries. Led by Wieger Wamelink, a research team at Wageningen University and Research Centre, they created a special model for planting with simulated soil like that found on the Moon and Mars, developed by NASA. They discovered that plants can grow to produce food for future astronauts on the soil of another world, and these plants can even produce viable seeds that can be replanted. The simulated soils were mixed with organic material to provide nutrients for the plants, and Earth’s standard soil was used as a control. The research team attempted to grow 10 different types of plants: watercress, rocket lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, rye, quinoa, spinach, chives, peas, and leeks. The results showed that only spinach failed to produce harvestable edible portions. This is a question that even scientists don’t yet have an answer for. However, if the child asks, you should share related knowledge, rather than saying "There’s no answer".

Say to the child: We can walk on Mars, but not in the same way we do on Earth! Imagine, if a person weighing 100 kg stepped on a scale on Mars, their weight would be just 38 kg. This means we'd walk much lighter and easier than on Earth!

What you need to know: Mars has weaker gravity compared to Earth. Its gravitational pull is 62% less than our planet's. According to Universe Today, a person weighing 100 kg would weigh only 38 kg on Mars. Gravity is primarily influenced by two factors: mass and energy. The greater the mass and energy of a planet, the stronger its gravity. Mars also has about half the radius of Earth. Its density is lower, with a volume only 15% of Earth's and a mass just 11%. The surface area of Mars is slightly smaller than the total land area on Earth. However, explaining gravity to a child may be difficult. It's better to use concrete examples in this case so they can understand and apply the idea to thinking about other planets.

Say to the child: Yes, it is true that a Mars meteorite has fallen to Earth! Found in Antarctica in 1984, the Mars meteorite is actually a piece of rock that formed on Mars about 4 billion years ago. Scientists consider this meteorite a 'time machine' that holds evidence of Mars' early days, billions of years ago. At that time, water or even signs of life may have existed on Mars.

What you need to know: Over the years, scientists have confirmed that around 100 meteorites from Mars have fallen on Earth, but they haven’t yet found direct proof to confirm the hypothesis. Recently, however, an important discovery by NASA's Mars rover has helped scientists confirm their theory. The atmosphere of Mars contains two isotopes of argon, argon-36 and argon-38. Under simple conditions, the ratio of argon on the red planet closely matches the ratio found in meteorites discovered on Earth. This discovery indicates that they actually came from Mars. According to scientists' analysis, many meteorites on Earth once existed on the red planet. This explanation might be difficult for a child to understand due to the chemical concepts involved, so it’s better to use details from comics they’ve seen to make the explanation easier to grasp.

Say to the child: Mars is a harsh and cold planet, surrounded by an atmosphere primarily made of CO2. Mars does have four seasons just like Earth, but the duration of each season is much longer because a year on Mars is twice as long as a year on Earth. The average temperature on its surface is -60°C, and during winter, it can plummet to -125°C. In the northern hemisphere, spring lasts for 7 months, summer lasts 6 months, fall stretches for over 5 months, and winter occurs for 4 months.

What you need to know: Mars experiences four seasons just like Earth, though their lengths differ. In the northern hemisphere, spring lasts 7 months, summer lasts 6 months, fall is more than 5 months long, and winter lasts 4 months. Similar to Earth, Mars' axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane. However, Mars' tilt is 25 degrees, which is more than Earth's 23-degree tilt. Mars' orbit is elliptical, causing its distance from the sun to change continually. On the other hand, Earth's orbit is nearly circular, so the distance from the sun remains constant throughout the year. However, explaining this to children may be challenging since they may not understand terms like orbit. It’s best to use specific examples to help children understand and develop their thinking about other planets.