Home /

Watch: Simulation shows how sun robbed Mars of atmosphere

Nasa's Mars-orbiting Maven spacecraft has discovered that the sun robbed the red planet of its once-thick atmosphere and water. On Friday, scientists reported that even today, the solar wind is stripping away about 100 grams of atmospheric gas every second. That's about a quarter-pound a second. Maven scientist Dave Brain told reporters he can't help but imagine hamburgers shooting out of the Martian atmosphere.NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft has observed this process in action – by measuring the speed and direction of ions escaping from Mars. This data visualization compares simulations of the solar wind and Mars atmospheric escape with new measurements taken by MAVEN. Source: NASA Goddard/Youtube

Latest Video

Penfolds Victoria Derby Day 2024
Racing

Penfolds Victoria Derby Day 2024

Keeper of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, Joe McGrath speaks about the history of the event and what draws the crowd to the Melbourne Cup Carnival every year. Video / Alyse Wright