Mars Celebrates the Start of Its 38th Year

The Martian New Year begins today, marking a new orbit around the sun and a fresh cycle of seasons on the Red Planet.

Mars' 38th year officially began on November 12, 2024, as the planet started a new orbit around the sun.
A Martian year lasts 687 Earth days, nearly twice the length of an Earth year, due to its longer orbit around the sun.
Mars experiences four seasons like Earth, but they vary in length because of its elliptical orbit and axial tilt.
The latter half of a Martian year often sees intense dust storms, which can sometimes envelop the entire planet.
Current Mars missions, including NASA's Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, continue to explore the planet, making significant scientific discoveries.