Scientists have detected what they consider to be lightning on Mars by analysing the swirling winds picked up by a NASA robotic spacecraft.
A microphone aboard the Perseverance rover captured the crackling {of electrical} discharges, a French-led analysis crew reported on Wednesday.
The researchers documented 55 situations of what they describe as “mini lightning” over two Martian years – slightly below 4 Earth years – principally occurring throughout mud storms.
{The electrical} arcs, only a few inches in dimension, happened inside about 6ft of the microphone mounted on the rover’s tall mast, which is a part of a system for inspecting Martian rocks with a digital camera and lasers.
Picture:
Pic: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Picture:
Pic: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Scientists say sparks from {the electrical} bursts – much like static electrical energy on Earth – might be heard clearly via the wind gusts and mud particles hitting the microphone.
The research’s lead writer, Baptiste Chide, of the Institute for Analysis in Astrophysics and Planetology in Toulouse, stated scientists have been on the lookout for electrical exercise and lightning on Mars for half a century.
“It opens a completely new field of investigation for Mars science,” Mr Chide stated. “It’s like finding a missing piece of the puzzle.”
Nevertheless, one other scientist has identified that the proof is powerful, nevertheless it comes from a single instrument supposed to review rock composition, and that {the electrical} discharges have been heard – not seen.
Picture:
Pic: NASA/JPL-Caltech
“It really is a chance discovery to hear something else going on nearby, and everything points to this being Martian lightning,” stated Daniel Mitchard, Senior Lecturer in Lightning Physics and Engineering at Cardiff College.
However till new devices are despatched to confirm the findings, “I think there will still be a debate from some scientists as to whether this really was lightning”.
Lightning has already been confirmed on Jupiter and Saturn, and researchers have suspected for years that Mars might need it, too.
Mr Chide and his crew analysed 28 hours of Perseverance recordings, documenting episodes of “mini lightning” based mostly on acoustic and electrical alerts to confirm doable lightning.
Since 2021, Perseverance has been exploring an historic Martian river delta, gathering rock samples which may include traces of long-extinct microscopic life.
NASA hopes to deliver these drilled samples again to Earth for detailed research, however the return mission is at present paused whereas the company seems to be for extra reasonably priced options.
