magnetic fields on Mars tagged posts

Magnetic field at Martian Surface 10X Stronger than expected

Sources of magnetism detected by magnetic sensor aboard the Mars InSight Lander. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Fluctuations in field provide clues about upper atmosphere. New data gleaned from the magnetic sensor aboard NASA’s InSight spacecraft is offering an unprecedented close-up of magnetic fields on Mars.

In a study published today in Nature Geoscience, scientists reveal that the magnetic field at the InSight landing site is ten times stronger than anticipated, and fluctuates over time-scales of seconds to days.

“One of the big unknowns from previous satellite missions was what the magnetization looked like over small areas,” said lead author Catherine Johnson, a professor at the University of British Columbia and senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute...

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