Current atmospheric readings from NASA's Curiosity rover REMS instrument at Gale Crater, Mars
| Mars | Earth | |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric pressure (avg) | ~700 Pa | 101,325 Pa |
| Pressure vs. Earth sea level | <1% | 100% (baseline) |
| Atmospheric composition | 95.3% CO₂, 2.7% N₂ | 78% N₂, 21% O₂ |
| Average surface temperature | −60°C / −76°F | +15°C / +59°F |
| Temperature range | −125°C to +20°C / −193°F to +68°F | −90°C to +57°C / −130°F to +135°F |
| Solar day (one rotation) | 24 h 37 min | 24 h |
| Year length | 687 Earth days | 365 days |
| Surface gravity | 3.72 m/s² (0.38× Earth) | 9.81 m/s² |
Despite 5–10 m/s speeds, thin air (less than 1% Earth density) means winds exert tiny force. A 30 m/s Martian gust feels like a gentle breeze on Earth. Dust devils, however, can hurl fine particles high into the thin atmosphere.
With almost no atmospheric blanket, Mars radiates heat into space each night and bakes unfiltered by day. Daily temperature swings of 80°C+ are common. Earth's thick atmosphere buffers similar swings to just 10–20°C in most climates.
A Martian day (Sol) is 24 hours, 39 minutes, 35 seconds — slightly longer than Earth's. Curiosity's Sol 1 was August 7, 2012. Sol numbers count from landing day, so Sol 4000+ is where the rover is today. Earth dates are shown alongside for reference.
Pressure is the force air exerts on all surfaces. At Earth sea level: 101,325 Pa. Mars averages ~700 Pa — less than inside a bicycle tire. A human exposed without a pressure suit would lose consciousness in seconds and blood would boil.