Final answer:
The reddish color of Mars is primarily due to iron oxides, or rust, in its soil, which is spread across the planet by wind and viewed through telescopes as a distinctive red color.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mars gets its reddish color from the presence of iron oxides in its soil. These iron oxides, often referred to as rust, coat the Martian surface and are responsible for its distinctive color. The fine dust that covers the planet, consisting of these oxides, is so prevalent that it gives Mars its well-recognized terra-cotta appearance, which can be easily seen through a telescope.
Mars has been associated with the color of blood and war in ancient cultures, likely due to this red appearance. Despite the harsh conditions, including high-speed winds in a thin atmosphere and the planet's history of wetter periods, Mars is now a dry and dusty world with polar ice caps and a landscape shaped by wind erosion rather than liquid water.