NASA scientists who have studied Mars were pleasantly surprised when they realized the impact of a meteorite on the Red Planet
This phenomenon was recorded on December 24, 2021, when the collision caused 4 degree bumps on the surface of Mars, discovered thanks to the InSight spacecraft and its seismometer, which landed on the surface of Mars nearly four years ago, about 3,500 km away. from the event site. . Effect.
The origin of this Mars quake was only confirmed when the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), in orbit around the planet, took pictures of the newly formed crater, less than 24 hours later.
The image shows ice blocks dropped to the surface and a crater about 150 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep, the largest ever since MRO began operations 16 years ago.
While meteor impacts are not uncommon on Mars, “we would never have imagined we’d see something of this magnitude,” Ingrid Dubar, of the Insight and MRO mission team, said at a press conference Thursday.
The researchers estimate that the meteorite should have been 12 meters away, which on Earth could disintegrate into the atmosphere. “It’s simply the largest meteor impact on the surface heard since science has used seismographs or seismometers,” explained to AFP professor of planetary science Philippe Lugnoni, who was involved in two studies that resulted from these observations published Thursday in the journal Science.
NASA also released an audio recording of the earthquake, which was obtained by accelerating the vibrations picked up by a seismograph to make them audible.
Ingrid Dubard described the presence of ice, in particular, as surprising. “It’s the hottest spot on Mars, and it’s closest to the equator where ice has ever been seen.” Studying the climate of Mars is also of scientific interest, explained Laurie Glaese, director of planetary sciences at NASA, as the presence of ice at this latitude could be very useful for future explorers.
The information collected should allow us to improve our knowledge of the interior of Mars and the history of its formation.
In total, the Insight spacecraft has detected more than 1,300 tremors on Mars, some of them caused by smaller meteorites, and scientists around the world will use the data collected for many years to come.
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