Overview: New research has significantly updated what we know about Mars' internal structure. Using data from the InSight Mars Lander, researchers have reinterpreted the planet's core as being smaller and denser than previously thought. They have also discovered a molten layer surrounding the core, offering more precise details about the planet's internal make-up.
Methods:
The studies used data from the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) onboard the NASA InSight Lander.
Three years of seismic data were analyzed, including seismic activities triggered by meteorite impacts.
Key Findings:
Core Composition: Mars has a liquid iron core that includes lighter elements like sulfur, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.
Molten Layer: A 150 km-thick layer of near-molten silicate rock surrounds the core.
Temperature: The molten layer has a temperature of at least 2,000 Kelvin, suggesting Mars had a turbulent internal history.
Implications: These findings can impact our understanding of Mars' formation history, its chemical abundance, and its internal heat dynamics.
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