Detects Multiple Earthquakes on Mars




Valerie Varnuska is a Westbury, New York area resident who often spends time exploring her surrounding natural environment. Fascinated with observing elements of the evening sky, Valerie Varnuska enjoys increasing her knowledge of astronomy.

Astronomical researchers at NASA learned that Mars is quite possibly seismically active. Two quakes measuring magnitudes of 3.1 and 3.3 on the Richter scale were recorded by NASA’s InSight lander’s Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) instrument in March of 2021. The quakes occurred in Cerberus Fossae, a volcanic region of the planet that is the origin of two previous large quakes that occurred in February of 2020 and measured magnitudes of 3.6 and 3.5 on the Richter scale.

Scientists aren’t certain if the quakes are being caused by current volcanic activity or if they are due to passive cooling, which occurs as the planet’s temperature drops. As the planet cools, this causes the crust to contract and crack. Researchers will continue to monitor the planet for similar seismic events throughout the duration of InSight’s stay on the planet until the end of December 2022.

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