Crossword Genius

Surface temperature of Mars, say (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

planet

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'mars say' is the definition.
(Mars is an example)

'surface temperature' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'surface' could be 'plane' (I've seen this before) and 'plane' is present in the answer.
'temperature' could be 't' (abbreviation) and 't' is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for planet that I've seen before include "one of seven in suite" , "Earth perhaps" , "Eg, Mars or Pluto" , "Earth, for instance" , "Large celestial body" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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