Posted on 03/08/2020 8:23:44 PM PDT by BenLurkin
These readings were obtained by InSight's magnetic sensor, which studied the magnetic fields within the mission's landing zone. This shallow crater, known as "Homestead hollow", is located in the region called Elysium Planitia a flat-smooth plain just north of the equator.
This region was selected because it has the right combination of flat topology, low elevation, and low debris to allow InSight to probe deep into the interior of Mars.
Prior to this mission, the best estimates of Martian magnetic fields came from satellites in orbit and were averaged over distances of more than 150 kilometres (93 miles).
Measuring magnetic fields on Mars is key to understanding the nature and strength of the global magnetic field (aka magnetosphere) that Mars had billions of years ago.
The presence of this magnetosphere has been inferred from the presence of magnetized rocks on the planet's surface, leading to localized and relatively weak magnetic fields.
According to data gathered by MAVEN and other missions, scientists predict that roughly 4.2 billion years ago, this magnetic field suddenly 'switched off'. This resulted in solar wind slowly stripping the Martian atmosphere away over the next few hundred million years, which is what led to the surface becoming the dry and desiccated place it is today.
Because most rocks on the surface of Mars are too young to have been magnetized by this ancient field, the team thinks it must be coming from deeper underground.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencealert.com ...
Because most rocks on the surface of Mars are too young to have been magnetized by this ancient field, the team thinks it must be coming from deeper underground.
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I blame the Krell.
Worthwhile research...especially if we someday learn how to ‘terraform’ Mars.
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Ping.
Switch it back on
Ping.
...scientists predict that roughly 4.2 billion years ago, this magnetic field suddenly 'switched off'.
Thanks BenLurkin.
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Look for it
I blame Varlock The Vicious, Supreme Ruler of Mars. He is NOT AMUSED!!
Where’s Georgio when we need him?
Estimates, inferred, predict, roughly. This is not “science.”
The Id Monster.
Mars... Really? When humankind arrives there I’m pretty sure they’ll find the same thing they found when they went to the moon... Nothing!
Space exploration by robot is the only sensible solution to quenching our thirst for knowledge. Elon Musk and other fools who crave a ‘human’ mission are wasting time, money and resources that could be better spent on other en-devours more worthwhile to humanity.
“Space exploration by robot is the only sensible solution to quenching our thirst for knowledge. “
That’s where I’ve been for a while now.
Thx.
There’s a lot of iron on the surface, so there must be plenty more circulating below causing the field.
“Switch it back on”
Gotta pay the past due bill first.
Uh, iron doesnt circulate. . . The only thing we know for certain that generates magnetic fields is the flow of electricity in either metallic or organic circuitry, ionic fluids, or plasmas. It doesnt exist in a static environment without the flow of energy.
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