Question 1: Which planet is often referred to as the ‘Red Planet’?
- Mars
- Venus
- Saturn
Correct Answer: Mars
Fact: Mars appears red due to its iron-rich surface. Iron oxide, or rust, forms as iron reacts with oxygen and moisture, creating a reddish pigment. The color of Mars can vary in different regions and lighting conditions, leading to varying shades of red and brown across the planet’s surface.
Question 2: Dunes on Mars can be covered with seasonal frost made of __.
- Sodium chloride
- Molecular nitrogen
- Carbon dioxide
Correct Answer: Carbon dioxide
Fact: Frost forms on Mars as carbon dioxide frost accumulates during colder seasons. As temperatures rise, the frost sublimates back into gas without going through a liquid state.
Question 3: Which robotic rover, launched by NASA in July 2020, is currently exploring the surface of Mars?
- Opportunity
- Spirit
- Perseverance
Correct Answer: Perseverance
Fact: NASA’s Perseverance rover, or Percy, landed in the Jezero crater on February 18, 2021. The car-sized rover is equipped with advanced instruments to search for signs of past microbial life, study geology, and prepare for future human missions. The rover also carries the Ingenuity helicopter for experimental flight tests in Mars’ thin atmosphere.