A recent study has a potential answer to the reason behind Mars’s Red Colour.
Key Highlights of the Study
- The study aims to understand the ancient Martian climate, the chemical processes on Mars (ancient and present) and the habitability question.
- Published In: ‘Journal Nature Communications’
- Conducted By: The Research is a coordinated effort between NASA’s (Strategic Science of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center) and its international partners.
- Method: Data was analyzed from combining,
- Orbital observations: From instruments on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, ESA’s Mars Express and Trace Gas Orbiter
- Ground Level Measurements: From NASA rovers like Curiosity, Sojourner, and Opportunity.
- Simulated Lab Experiments: The results were compared lab experiments testing how light interacts with ferrihydrite particles and other minerals under simulated Martian conditions.
Key Findings of the Study
- The presence of water-rich iron mineral ferrihydrite in Martian Dust has been found to give Mars its red colour.
- Ferrihydrite was found everywhere in the Martian dust and also probably in the rock formations, as well.
- Martian winds spread this dust everywhere creating the planet’s iconic red appearance.
Significance
- Water Rich Mars: Ferrihydrite can form in the presence of cool water at lower temperatures, thus providing evidence that Mars was once water rich.
- Ferrihydrite can only form in conditions where oxygen from air or other sources and water can react with iron
- Principles of Mineral Formation: The study gives us a better chance to apply principles of mineral formation and conditions to tap back in time.
- Space Research: It underlines the significance of coordinated research to explore fundamental questions about our solar system and the future of space exploration.
About Red Planet: Mars
- Mars is one of the most explored planets in our solar system, known for its past wetter and warmer climate.
- NASA has sent multiple rovers such as Perseverance , Spirit and Opportunity to study its surface.
- Potential for Life: Scientists seek evidence of past life when Mars had water, but no current life is expected.
- Size and Distance:
- Radius: 3,390 km (2,106 mi) (about half of Earth’s size).
- Distance from the Sun: 228 million km (142 million mi), or 1.5 AU.
- Sunlight takes 13 minutes to reach Mars.
- Orbit and Rotation:
- One Martian day (Sol) = 24.6 hours.
- One Martian year = 687 Earth days (669.6 Sols).
- Mars has seasons, but they last longer due to its elliptical orbit.
- Moons: Two small, irregularly shaped moons, Phobos and Deimos, likely captured asteroids.
- Phobos may break apart in 50 million years.
- Rings: Mars currently has no rings but may develop one if Phobos disintegrates.
- Formation and Structure:
- Formed 4.5 billion years ago from gas and dust.
- Has an iron-nickel-sulfur core, a rocky mantle, and a solid crust.
- Surface Features:
- Mars appears red due to iron oxidation but has brown, gold, and tan hues.
- Valles Marineris: A 3,000-mile-long canyon system, 10x larger than the Grand Canyon.
- Olympus Mons: The largest volcano in the solar system, 3x taller than Mt. Everest.
- Evidence of ancient rivers, lakes, and massive floods.
- Atmosphere:
- Thin, mostly CO₂, nitrogen, and argon.
- Extreme temperatures: 20°C (70°F) to -153°C (-225°F).
- Frequent dust storms that last for months.
- Magnetosphere: No global magnetic field, but remnants suggest a past magnetic field 4 billion years ago.
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