However, we can talk about the following:
* Earliest recorded observations: Ancient civilizations, like the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks, knew about Mars and tracked its movements in the sky. The exact date of these first observations is unknown.
* First telescopic observation: Galileo Galilei is credited with being the first to observe Mars through a telescope in 1610. This marked the beginning of our detailed study of the planet.
* First spacecraft flyby: The Mariner 4 spacecraft made the first successful flyby of Mars in 1965, sending back the first close-up images of the planet.
So, while Mars wasn't "discovered" in the traditional sense, our understanding and knowledge of it has evolved significantly over time, with these milestones marking key points in that progress.
