Bing Quiz › All quizzes › Mars Quiz
Bing Mars Quiz: 10 Questions With Answers
Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has fascinated scientists and the public for centuries. Known as the Red Planet for its distinctive orange-red appearance, Mars is a desert-like world with unique geological features and a thin atmosphere. This quiz explores the characteristics, geology, and exploration of our neighboring planet.
Looking for Microsoft's own quiz? It is on your Microsoft Rewards dashboard. This page is our own practice quiz on the same topic, so you can learn the facts first. For the daily image quiz see today's Bing Homepage Quiz.
Play the quiz
Pick A, B or C for each question. The right answer turns green and a short fact explains it.
All 10 questions and answers
Every question with its answer and explanation. Open “Show answer” after you guess.
1 What is Mars commonly known as?
- A The Red Planet
- B The Blue Planet
- C The Golden Planet
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. The Red Planet
Did you know? Mars is called the Red Planet due to its distinctive orange-red appearance caused by iron oxide minerals like nanophase Fe2O3 on its surface.
2 What is the primary component of Mars's atmosphere?
- A Oxygen
- B Carbon dioxide
- C Nitrogen
Show answer
✓ Answer: B. Carbon dioxide
Did you know? Mars has a tenuous atmosphere that is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (CO2), with atmospheric pressure only a few thousandths of Earth's.
3 How does Mars's diameter compare to Earth's?
- A About half of Earth's
- B About the same as Earth's
- C About twice Earth's
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. About half of Earth's
Did you know? Mars has a mean diameter of 6,779 km, which is approximately half of Earth's diameter, or about twice the Moon's diameter.
4 What is the axial tilt of Mars?
- A 35 degrees
- B 25 degrees
- C 15 degrees
Show answer
✓ Answer: B. 25 degrees
Did you know? With a significant axial tilt of 25 degrees, Mars experiences seasons similar to Earth, which has an axial tilt of 23.5 degrees.
5 How long is a Martian solar year?
- A 2.5 Earth years or 800 Earth days
- B 1.88 Earth years or 687 Earth days
- C 1.5 Earth years or 500 Earth days
Show answer
✓ Answer: B. 1.88 Earth years or 687 Earth days
Did you know? A Martian solar year equals 1.88 Earth years or 687 Earth days, while a Martian solar day (sol) is 24.6 hours.
6 What is the name of the tallest volcano on Mars?
- A Valles Marineris
- B Tharsis Bulge
- C Olympus Mons
Show answer
✓ Answer: C. Olympus Mons
Did you know? Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano on Mars at 21.9 km (13.6 miles) high. It formed during the Amazonian period and is now extinct.
7 How many natural satellites does Mars have?
- A Two
- B One
- C Four
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. Two
Did you know? Mars has two natural satellites that are small and irregular in shape: Phobos and Deimos. Evidence suggests Mars may have had rings 3.5 to 4 billion years ago.
8 Which geological period on Mars is currently dominating and continuing to the present?
- A Hesperian period
- B Noachian period
- C Amazonian period
Show answer
✓ Answer: C. Amazonian period
Did you know? The Amazonian period, which began between 3.3 and 2.9 billion years ago, is the currently dominating period and continues to influence Mars's geological processes.
9 What was the first successful Mars flyby mission?
- A Mariner 4 in 1965
- B Mars 1 in 1963
- C Mariner 9 in 1971
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. Mariner 4 in 1965
Did you know? Mariner 4 conducted the first successful flyby exploration of Mars in 1965. Mars 1 in 1963 was the first flight attempt, but communication was lost en route.
10 Which spacecraft was the first to orbit Mars?
- A Mariner 9
- B Mars 3
- C Mars 2
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. Mariner 9
Did you know? Mariner 9 entered orbit around Mars in 1971, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit any body other than the Moon, Sun, or Earth.
About Mars
Mars appears red due to iron oxide minerals on its surface, including nanophase Fe2O3 and the mineral goethite. The planet has a surface area similar to all of Earth's dry land combined, but is only about half Earth's diameter. Mars experiences seasons like Earth due to an axial tilt of 25 degrees, and a Martian year lasts 1.88 Earth years or 687 Earth days.
Questions and facts checked against the Wikipedia article Mars. How we write quizzes: editorial policy.
Mars Quiz FAQ
Is this the official Bing Mars Quiz?
No. BingQuiz.net is independent and not affiliated with Microsoft. This is our own free practice quiz on mars, written from the Wikipedia article linked on this page. Microsoft's quiz is on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard.
Where do I play the official quiz for Microsoft Rewards points?
Sign in to your Microsoft account and open the quiz card on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard (rewards.bing.com) or on Bing.com. Points are only credited there.
Do I need an account to play this quiz?
No. Every quiz on BingQuiz.net is free and works without signing up.