A day on Mars lasts 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35 seconds.

Scientists measure time on Mars using the solar day, or sol. This is the time it takes for the Sun to return to the same spot in the sky. A sol is 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35 seconds long. Because Mars orbits the Sun, this is slightly longer than the time it takes the planet to do one full spin.NASA teams who operate rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance must work on Mars time. Their work shifts start 39 minutes later every single day. After about 38 days, their schedule has moved through every hour of the Earth day. This causes a type of exhaustion called Mars lag, which feels like jet lag.Mars also tilts at an angle of 25.2 degrees. This is very similar to Earth's tilt of 23.4 degrees. Because of this tilt, Mars has four seasons just like Earth. However, a year on Mars is 687 Earth days, so the seasons last much longer.The similar day length is helpful for future astronauts. Human bodies have an internal clock called a circadian rhythm. This clock helps us sleep and wake up at the right times. Since Mars has a similar day-night cycle, humans could adapt to living there more easily than on other planets.