Meteor Impacts on Mars Linked to Deep-Seated Marsquakes

New research reveals that meteoroid strikes on Mars generate seismic waves that travel deeper and faster through the planet than previously understood.

Researchers identified a 21.5-meter-wide impact crater in the Cerberus Fossae region of Mars, correlating it with a marsquake detected by NASA's InSight lander.
The seismic waves from the impact traveled through Mars' mantle, suggesting a 'seismic highway' that allows energy to travel deeper and faster than earlier models predicted.
Using artificial intelligence, scientists analyzed tens of thousands of images from Mars orbiters to identify 123 new impact craters, 49 of which matched seismic events recorded by InSight.
The findings indicate that meteoroid impacts on Mars occur 1.5 to 2.5 times more frequently than previous estimates, reshaping our understanding of Martian seismic activity.
This research enhances knowledge of Mars' interior structure and informs future missions by assessing potential risks from meteoroid impacts to human and robotic explorers.

European Space Agency