Science

A Quake On Mars!

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: Can you believe it? There was a quake on Mars!

The InSight lander, which has fixed its ears to the Martian ground,  heard some of the biggest rumblings under the surface. A NASA probe detected the biggest and longest-lasting quake on Mars measuring a magnitude 4.2 that shook the ground for nearly an hour-and-a-half was recorded on September 18, India Today reported.

The quake is the third such big event recorded by the lander in just a month. InSight had detected two quakes of magnitudes 4.2 and 4.1 on its seismometer on August 25. NASA said that the September 18 quake of 4.2 had five times the energy of the mission’s previous record holder, a magnitude 3.7 quake detected in 2019.

Scientists are now trying to pinpoint the epicentre of the quake which they believe occurred too far to have originated where InSight has detected almost all of its previous large quakes. The previous quakes have been detected in Cerberus Fossae, a region roughly 1,609 kilometres away where lava may have flowed within the last few million years.

The InSight’s seismometer usually finds marsquakes at night, when the planet cools off and winds are low, however this time it was different. NASA in a statement said, “Despite their differences, the two August quakes do have something in common other than being big: Both occurred during the day, the windiest and, to a seismometer, noisiest time on Mars.”

Insight was designed to give the Red Planet, formed nearly four billion years ago, its first thorough checkup. It is the first outer space robotic explorer to study in-depth the “inner space” of Mars — its crust, mantle, and core. The lander reached its destination in 2018.
OB Bureau

Recent Posts

AR Rahman Best Man In The World, Certifies Saira Banu; Then Why Their Separation?

Mumbai: There has been a lot of talk over AR Rahman and his wife Saira…

November 24, 2024

Process On To Form NODC In 2-3 Months, Says Odisha CM Mohan Majhi

Sundargarh: The North Odisha Development Council (NODC) would be formed in 2-3 months, said Chief…

November 24, 2024

Odisha DGP Reviews Security Arrangements For President’s Visit To Puri

Puri: Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on Sunday reviewed the security arrangements for…

November 24, 2024

KISS-DU Convocation Honours 3 Eminent Personalities; 8 PhD Degrees Awarded

Bhubaneswar: Three eminent personalities were conferred honorary D.Litt degrees for their outstanding academic excellence and…

November 24, 2024

INS Kuthar Visits Odisha’s Gopalpur Port To Promote Awareness On Coastal Security

Berhampur: Indian Navy ship INS Kuthar docked in Gopalpur port in Odisha's Ganjam district with…

November 24, 2024

Attack On Dharmasala MLA In Odisha: BJD, BJP Trade Charges Over Police Action

Jajpur: Ruling BJP and Opposition BJD were engaged in trading charges against each other on…

November 24, 2024

After Jaiswal-Kohli-Bumrah Heroics, Can India Beat Australia By Record Margin In 1st Test?

Perth: It was the perfect day of Test cricket for Team India. The visiting team…

November 24, 2024

Youth Beats Old Mother To Death In Odisha’s Angul

Angul: A youth allegedly beat his old mother to death following an argument over a…

November 24, 2024