The Romans associated the planet with their god of war because it reminded them of blood while ​​the Egyptians called it "Her Desher," meaning "the red one." The planet didn’t get such a distinctive,

Ferrihydrite, a water-rich iron mineral, plays an important role in giving the red planet its signature hue, according to the study.

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.

Vincent Chevrier, associate research professor at the University of Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, is part of an international team of researchers arguing that Mars gets its reddish hue not from hematite,

A new study claims that a mineral found in Mars' dust called ferrihydrite, which forms in the presence of cool water, is likely what gives the planet its reddish hue.

A new study may have revealed the true source behind how the Red Planet got its hue. It’s been long thought that Mars shines red due to the rusted iron minerals within the dust that covers the planet — but a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications suggests otherwise.