Red Planet
7
3.9
- noun
- /rɛd ˈplænɪt/
:
Planeta Rojo
- The reddish appearance of the Red Planet is due to the iron oxide present on its surface.
I would like to also breathe my last breath on that sexy Red Planet.
- I would like to also breathe my last breath on that sexy Red Planet.
Examples
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Always in the background as the data rolls in is the possibility of an ultimate manned mission to the Red Planet.
Academic text (1999) -
Exploration of Mars began with the arrival of the Mariner 4 spacecraft at the Red Planet in 1965 and has continued over the next four decades with the Viking, Mars Pathfinder, and Mars Global Surveyor missions.
Academic text (2005) -
One day, the Red Planet may become the home of life transplanted from Earth.
Academic text (1995) -
Getting people to the Red Planet hasn't been a success story, however.
Blog text (1) -
The Red Planet has the three most vital substances for human life: water, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Academic text (1994) -
The Red Planet's appearance improves slowly but steadily during these three months.
Academic text (2007) -
The Red Planet rises a little after 4 a.m. in mid-April and shortly before 3 a.m. by mid-May.
Academic text (2005) -
Given true Kennedy-like commitment, we could have astronauts on the Red Planet within a decade.
Academic text (2010) -
The demise of Mars Observer last April cast a pall over the exploration of the Red Planet and seeded doubts about the future of planetary exploration.
Academic text (1994) -
Oppositions are the best time for pointing a telescope—large or small—at the Red Planet and pondering its mysteries.
Academic text (1994)
Synonyms
354
2.4
The fourth planet from the Sun with a red surface
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'Red Planet' is a direct composition of 'red' (a color) + 'planet' (a celestial body), so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer it refers to a planet that is red (commonly Mars). This color-descriptive nickname is cross-linguistically transparent and follows normal adjective+noun composition, making the meaning immediately derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Red Planet comes from the way the red dust on the planet makes it look like rusty soil shining in the sky. So, Red Planet is the simple name people use to mean 'Mars'.