What Is the Atmosphere of Mars Made Of?

Mars has a very thin atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide, with smaller amounts of nitrogen and argon and traces of other gases. The thin atmosphere provides little warming and little protection from the environment compared with Earth's atmosphere.

Mars is a world where apparently simple questions often lead to larger scientific problems. Researchers combine spacecraft images, measurements from orbit, surface observations and laboratory analysis of Martian material to build explanations that can be tested. As with all planetary science, the strongest conclusions come from multiple observations that agree with one another.

The value of studying what is the atmosphere of mars made of? is not limited to one isolated fact. Mars is a rocky planet with a long geological history, a thin atmosphere and evidence that its environment changed substantially over time. Individual observations become more useful when they are placed into that larger planetary context.