Which planet is known as the Red Planet?

(a) Venus

(b) Mars

(c) Jupiter

(d) Mercury

The correct Answer: (b) Mars

The correct answer is Mars. Mars is often called the “Red Planet” because of its distinct reddish appearance when observed from Earth. This reddish color comes from the presence of iron oxide (rust-like particles) in the soil and rocks on its surface, which reflect sunlight and give the planet its characteristic hue.

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system and is smaller than Earth. Despite its size, Mars has been a subject of great interest for scientists and astronomers because it has features similar to Earth, such as mountains, valleys, deserts, and even polar ice caps. The largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, and the deepest canyon, Valles Marineris, are both found on Mars.

Mars also has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, and is believed to have once had liquid water on its surface. Because of this, it is considered a potential candidate for the existence of past microbial life and is a focus of exploration missions by NASA, ISRO, and other space agencies.

Thus, due to its reddish surface and unique features, Mars is popularly known as the Red Planet.