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What is a 'planetary tilt'?

A planet's tilt refers to the angle its rotational axis makes with its orbital plane. Earth's tilt gives us seasons, for example. For Mars, understanding its tilt, alongside gravitational data, provided crucial clues about the distribution of mass and heat within its interior, helping scientists map its internal structure.

Stories that explain this

Mars's southern hemisphere interior is up to 400°C hotter than its north

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