Mars, the neighboring planet to Earth, experiences an average of 30 meteorite impacts every month that create craters at least 30 meters in diameter. This is according to a recent study published in Nature Astronomy by an international team led by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and Imperial College London.
The study used data collected by NASA’s InSight spacecraft’s SEIS seismograph instrument, which was launched on Mars in 2018. The researchers were able to hear meteorite impacts on the planet and determined that between 280 and 360 meteorites hit Mars every year.
This rate is much higher than previously thought, as previous estimates based on orbital images were only five times lower. The difficulty of identifying new craters on Mars, especially in areas prone to sandstorms, made it challenging for scientists to determine the actual impact frequency.
The team was able to analyze seismic data and the acoustic waves generated by the impacts to determine the number of craters created by meteorite impacts. This groundbreaking study provides valuable information for planning future missions to Mars and sheds light on the impact frequency on the red planet.
In addition to its higher impact rate, Mars also receives more meteorites than the Moon due to its proximity to the Solar System’s asteroid belt and its thinner atmosphere, which offers less protection against impacts. Scientists believe that studying these impacts can help us better understand how planets like Earth have evolved over time.
Overall, this study highlights just how much we still have left to learn about our own planet system and our place within it. By studying other planets like Mars, we can gain insights into our own history and potentially even predict future events that may affect our survival as a species.