Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system. It is named after Mars, the Roman god of war (Ares in Greek mythology). Its name was chosen because of its red color, a feature that also earned it the nickname "The Red Planet." Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos; both are small and oddly-shaped, and are possibly captured asteroids.

The prefix areo- refers to Mars in the same way geo- refers to Earth—for example, areology versus geology. (Areology is also used to refer to the study of Mars as a whole rather than just the geological processes of the planet.)

The astronomical symbol for Mars is ?, a circle with an arrow pointing northeast. This symbol is a stylized representation of the shield and spear of the god Mars, and in biology it is used as a sign for the male sex.

The Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures refer to the planet as, or fire star, a naming based on the ancient Chinese mythological cycle of Five Elements.

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