Humans have been training telescopes on Mars for hundreds of years and gazing up at it for thousands. Despite the fact that scientists have now sent more spacecraft to Mars than any other extraterrestrial planet,

A study suggests Mars takes its red hue from a type of mineral that forms in cool water, which could reveal insights about whether Mars was ever able to support life.

Martian dust is mostly rust. Mars’s famed color has captivated humankind for centuries, earning its nickname of the ‘Red Planet’. Romans named Mars for their god of war because its colour was reminiscent of blood, while Egyptians called it ‘Her Desher’, meaning ‘the red one.’ CREDIT: A.Valantinas.