Marssia

Marssia is a fictional or speculative name used to refer to a Mars-like world in science fiction and related discussions. It is not an official designation for any real astronomical object.

Etymology: The name blends Mars with a common planetary-naming suffix and is sometimes written with a double s to foreground its link to the red planet.

Usage and scope: The term appears across multiple works and discussions, but there is no canonical depiction. Descriptions of Marssia vary by author and context. In many portrayals, Marssia is a rugged, desert world with a thin atmosphere, visible ice near the poles, and geological evidence of past water activity.

Geography and climate: Because Marssia is fictional, its geography differs by source. Typical features include large canyons, dust storms, and a climate that presents challenges for human residence. Some stories imagine terraforming or orbital engineering that enables longer-term settlement.

Relationship to Mars: In some versions, Marssia is a separate planet orbiting a nearby star; in others it is a terraformed variant of Mars or a colony world on a Mars-like orbit. In certain narratives, Marssia serves as an alternate scenario for planetary exploration or human expansion.

See also: Mars; Mars-like planet; Terraforming; Nomenclature in science fiction.