Mars Under Daily Fire_ New Study Reveals.
New research paints a picture of a more active Mars than previously imagined. The Red Planet is likely struck by a space rock nearly every day, generating seismic waves and leaving behind an 8-metre-wide crater, according to a new study.
Further, every month, the Red Planet also appears to be hit by a meteorite that leaves a 30-metre crater, the paper published in journal Nature Astronomy noted.
Further, every month, the Red Planet also appears to be hit by a meteorite that leaves a 30-metre crater, the paper published in journal Nature Astronomy noted.
Transcript
00:00Hey space enthusiasts! Did you know Mars gets pelted by space rocks almost every day?
00:06New findings from NASA's InSight mission reveal Mars is under constant bombardment,
00:10generating seismic waves that rock the red planet.
00:14That's right. Mars' thin atmosphere makes it vulnerable to frequent meteorite impacts.
00:20Without the kind of atmospheric protection we have on Earth, space debris can easily reach Mars' surface.
00:26A new study shows Mars is struck almost daily by space rocks, creating craters up to 8 meters wide.
00:32And every month, a meteorite leaves a massive 30-meter crater.
00:36Why does this matter? Well, these impacts aren't just creating craters.
00:40They're generating seismic waves that give us clues about Mars' interior.
00:44The InSight mission, launched in 2018, carried a highly sensitive seismometer.
00:48This instrument recorded over 80 marsquakes linked to meteorite impacts.
00:53Seismology is proving to be an excellent tool for measuring impact rates.
00:58Geraldine Zenheuser, a seismologist from ETH Zurich,
01:02explained that these impacts occur about five times more often than previously thought.
01:08With seismology, scientists can get a clearer picture of Mars' impact rates compared to orbital imagery alone.
01:14Mars' surface is more vulnerable and dynamic than we imagined.
01:18Orbital images can't always detect new craters because of frequent sandstorms.
01:22But seismic data can record every single impact within the seismometer's range.
01:27These discoveries are crucial for future missions.
01:30Understanding Mars' impact rates helps inform safety strategies for both robotic and human missions.
01:36Plus, studying these impacts can reveal much about Mars' geological history.
01:41Natalia Wojcicka, from Imperial College London, said seismic data acts like a cosmic clock,
01:46helping us date Martian surfaces.
01:50Looking ahead, researchers hope future missions will carry more advanced seismometers.
01:56This will help paint a complete picture of Mars' inner structure and its layers.
02:01So next time you look up at the night sky, remember Mars is taking a beating from space rocks,
02:06revealing secrets about its past and its mysterious interior.
02:10Thanks for tuning in. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more space updates.
02:19NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology