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(Newser)
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It was a "slight roar" but it meant something big – the first seismic signal detected on the surface of a planetary body other than our planet and our natal moon. We must thank NASA's Martian InSight lander. The LG was listening for earthquakes that could lighten the bowels of Mars since his robotic arm dropped an armored seismometer on the west side of Elysium Planitia last December, a few weeks after landing. The key moment – listen to it here – arrived on April 6, 128 days after the start of the mission. "This Marsquake, the first we've seen, is very small," says Chief Scientist Bruce Banerdt. "You will not even notice this one in your everyday life." Researcher Tom Pike adds, according to the BBC: "There are a lot of uncertainties" but "this is probably only an event of magnitude 1 to 2, maybe at the same time. inside [62 miles] or. "
The quake – which lasted 10 minutes, by National Geographic– could indicate a movement in the interior of the planet or a meteorite impact. "Interestingly, InSight scientists say the character of the rumor reminds them a lot of the kind of data that Apollo collectors have collected on the lunar surface," according to the BBC. The team is also investigating less important signals detected on March 14, April 10 and 11, but can not yet confirm that there was seismic events. "When you get one, you will not know if you've been lucky, but when we see two or three, we'll have a better idea" of the activity on the planet, Pike told the BBC. However, a confirmed "Marsquake" seems enough for the InSight seismometer manager, Philippe Lognonné. "It's so exciting to finally have proof that Mars is still seismically active," he said, according to Space.com. "We waited [for] month. "(Read more stories from Mars.)
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