![]() |
Mars having a dust storm, and its two moons are also in the picture Credit: NASA, ESA, and STScI (usage does not imply endorsement of site contents) |
Measurements of Martian atmospheric loss rates imply incredible changes over the assumed billions of years of Mars’ history.To continue reading, click on "Mars Is Losing Its Atmosphere Fast".
Either Mars is younger than thought, or its atmosphere was unbelievable billions of years ago. The MAVEN spacecraft (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution), launched in 2013, has taken atmospheric escape measurements for an entire Martian year. A Mars year is 687 Earth-days. How fast is gas being lost from the atmosphere? Quick answer is 1 to 2 kilograms per second. A report in Icarus does the math for moyboy assumptions that Mars formed 4.5 billion years ago.
Looking for a comment area?
You can start your own conversation by using the buttons below!