Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery using data from NASA’s InSight lander and images captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The team found evidence of a fresh impact crater on Mars, which is located in an area called Cerberus Fossae. This crater is 71 feet in diameter and was previously unknown to scientists.
The discovery was made possible by using machine learning algorithms to analyze images from the MRO’s Context Camera, which can detect meteoroid impacts on Mars. The AI tool quickly sifted through tens of thousands of images and identified a handful of potential craters that could be correlated with seismic data collected by InSight’s seismometer.
InSight detected over 1,300 marsquakes, which are caused by shaking deep inside the planet or by space rocks striking the surface. By studying how seismic waves from these quakes change as they travel through Mars’ crust, mantle, and core, scientists can gain insights into the planet’s interior.
The Cerberus Fossae impact crater is significant because it shows that seismic signals produced by impacts can reach deeper into the Martian crust than previously thought. This finding suggests that there may be a “seismic highway” through the mantle, allowing quakes to travel further distances on the planet.
The discovery highlights the importance of using machine learning algorithms in planetary science research. The AI tool enabled scientists to quickly analyze large amounts of data and identify potential craters, which would have taken years to find manually.
This finding also underscores the continued value of NASA’s InSight mission, which was retired in 2022 after a successful extended mission. Scientists will now need to reassess their models to understand how seismic signals are generated on Mars and how they can be used to study the planet’s interior.
NASA’s InSight lander was designed and built by JPL and supported by multiple international partners, including European Space Agency (ESA) and other organizations. The mission provided valuable insights into Mars’ geology and composition, which have contributed significantly to our understanding of the Red Planet.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/nasas-insight-finds-marsquakes-from-meteoroids-go-deeper-than-expected