Mars is on average about 228 million kilometers (142 million miles) away from the Sun, which is approximately 1.5 times the distance between Earth and the Sun (1.5 AU)
. Because Mars has an elliptical orbit, its distance from the Sun varies:
- At perihelion (closest point), Mars is about 207 million kilometers (129 million miles) from the Sun.
- At aphelion (farthest point), Mars is about 249 million kilometers (155 million miles) from the Sun
This variation means the distance between Mars and the Sun is not constant but changes as Mars orbits. The elliptical orbit also affects the timing and planning of missions to Mars
