Mars's distance from the Sun varies because its orbit is not a perfect circle, but an ellipse.

Here's the breakdown:

* Average distance: 227.9 million kilometers (141.6 million miles)

* Perihelion (closest point): 206.7 million kilometers (128.4 million miles)

* Aphelion (farthest point): 249.2 million kilometers (154.8 million miles)

So, depending on where Mars is in its orbit, its distance from the Sun can change significantly.