Photo Credit: NASA

1. Only 17 missions to Mars have been successful.

Since 1960, there have been over 50 planned missions to explore Mars or its moons. Unfortunately, only a fraction have been categorized as “successful” or “most successful.” But that number could go up soon – there are several missions currently en route!

2. A year on Mars lasts 687 Earth days.

That’s the length of almost two years on Earth!

3. There are signs of liquid water on Mars.

Life on Mars might be possible! Mars has been known to have frozen water for years, but a recent discovery shows there may be liquid water, too. The first signs of trickling water are dark stripes or stains on crater wall and cliffs seen in satellite images.

4. Mars is home to the tallest mountain in the solar system.

It’s called Olympus Mons and stands 21 km high and 600 km in diameter. That’s about two and a half times as tall as Mount Everest! Despite having formed over billions of years, evidence from volcanic lava flows is so recent many scientists believe it could still be active.

5. Pieces of Mars have been found on Earth.

You’re closer to the Red Planet than you knew! Martian meteorites have crashed to Earth, presumably blasted off the fourth planet from the sun by an asteroid strike. The study of this material has allowed scientists to discover more about Mars before launching space missions.

6. Mars only has 38% of the gravity that Earth has.

This means that a 150-pound person on Earth would weigh only 56.5 pounds on Mars. You can also jump three times as high. Basketball, anyone?

7. It’s pretty darn cold.

Bring your winter jacket. The average temperature on Mars is –80°F and can range from –195°F in the winter to 72°F in the summer. This is because Mars’ atmosphere is roughly 100 times thinner than our home planet’s, so staying warm is tough.

8. Hellas Planitia is a vast plain that covers 1,400 miles.

Don’t get lost here. Hellas Planitia is a vast and featureless plain about the size of the Caribbean Sea on the surface of Mars. It was created by asteroids crashing into the planet’s surface nearly four billion years ago.

9. The Mars 2020 mission plans to explore the Red Planet like never before.

In July 2014, NASA announced plans to send a rover to Mars in the year 2020. It will “carry seven carefully-selected instruments to conduct unprecedented science and exploration technology investigations on the Red Planet.” The rover is to collect rock and soil samples that will be returned to Earth for study.

10. Over 100,000 people have applied to be part of a one-way trip to colonize Mars in 2022.

The Mars One project wants to colonize the Red Planet, and apparently never seeing your family again is worth it to these wannabe space adventurers. If you’re over 18, you can apply to be part of history too!

Need more space trivia to show off to your friends? Check out awesome facts about the moon here.