Researchers have uncovered an important mystery about Mars‘ magnetosphere. Here are all the details about the research!
The new findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, shed light on the history ofMars, revealing interesting details about the destruction of its magnetosphere.
The researchers aimed to unravel the mysteries surroundingMars’ magnetosphere, which is believed to have been lost in the planet’s past. The study relies heavily on data collected by NASA’s Insight Lander and China’s Zhurong Martian Rover.
History of Mars’ Magnetosphere
This spacecraft captured data in various regions of Mars showing the presence of small regions of magnetism that vary significantly in size. While the average global magnitude on the Martian surface is typically 200 nT, InSight has recorded magnitudes up to 2,000 nT.
Interestingly, Zhurong discovered a magnitude of only 20 nT elsewhere on the planet, indicating the presence of stronger magnetospheric activity in certain regions.
In contrast, other regions exhibited weaker magnetism, leading to speculation about a catastrophic event that may have triggered these changes. Understanding the disappearance or alteration of Mars’ magnetosphere is critical to the ongoing exploration missions of NASA and other space agencies.
As NASA plans to launch a manned mission to Mars in the next decade, understanding the evolution of the planet and the conditions that shaped its current state will provide invaluable information to astronomers and improve our understanding of Mars in general.
