NASA reveals Mars has metal in its atmosphere

Long-term direct detection of the metal ions by MAVEN is the first conclusive evidence that these ions exist on another planet and that they are a permanent feature there.

Washington, April 11: Mars has electrically charged metal atoms high in its atmosphere, show results from NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission MAVEN spacecraft.

The metal ions can reveal previously invisible activity in the mysterious electrically charged upper atmosphere of the Red Planet.

"MAVEN has made the first direct detection of the permanent presence of metal ions in the ionosphere of a planet other than Earth," said Joseph Grebowsky of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

MAVEN is exploring the Martian upper atmosphere to understand how the planet lost most of its air, transforming from a world that could have supported life billions of years ago into a cold desert planet today.

Understanding ionospheric activity is shedding light on how the Martian atmosphere is being lost to space, according to the team.

The metal comes from a constant rain of tiny meteoroids onto the Red Planet. When a high-speed meteoroid hits the Martian atmosphere, it vaporises.

Metal atoms in the vapor trail get some of their electrons torn away by other charged atoms and molecules in the ionosphere, transforming the metal atoms into electrically charged ions, the study said.

There has also been indirect evidence for metal ions above other planets in our solar system.

"Observing metal ions on another planet gives us something to compare and contrast with Earth to understand the ionosphere and atmospheric chemistry better," Grebowsky said.

IANS