Premium Only Content

Hear Meteoroid Striking Mars, Captured by NASA’s InSight Lander
Hear Meteoroid Striking Mars, Captured by NASA’s InSight Lander.
NASA’s InSight lander detected seismic waves from a meteoroid and was able to capture the sound of the space rock striking the surface of Mars for the first time. The meteoroid – the term used for incoming space rocks before they hit the ground – entered Mars’ atmosphere on Sept. 5, 2021, exploding into at least three shards that each left craters behind. Mars’ atmosphere is just 1% as dense as Earth’s, allowing far more meteoroids to pass through and impact the Red Planet’s surface.
This event marks the first time seismic and acoustic waves from an impact were detected on the Red Planet. Why does this meteoroid impact sound like a “bloop” in the video? It has to do with a peculiar atmospheric effect that’s also observed in deserts on Earth.
After sunset, the atmosphere retains some heat accumulated during the day. Sound waves travel through this heated atmosphere at different speeds, depending on their frequency. As a result, lower-pitched sounds arrive before high-pitched sounds. An observer close to the impact would hear a “bang,” while someone many miles away would hear the bass sounds first, creating a “bloop.”
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter flew over the estimated impact site to confirm the location. The orbiter used its black-and-white Context Camera to reveal three darkened spots on the surface.
After locating these spots, the orbiter’s team used the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera, or HiRISE, to get a color close-up of the craters. Because HiRISE sees wavelengths the human eye can’t detect, scientists change the camera’s filters to enhance the color of the image. The areas that appear blue around the craters are where dust has been removed or disturbed by the blast of the impact. Martian dust is bright and red, so removing it makes the surface appear relatively dark and blue.
For more information on InSight, visit https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Maryland/University of Arizona/CNES/IPGP/Manchu/Bureau 21/ETH Zurich/Kirschner/van Driel
-
LIVE
Sean Unpaved
1 hour agoAll-Star Magic, Bill's All-In Vibe, & Manning's Path to Glory
180 watching -
1:05:17
Timcast
1 hour agoTrump EXPLODES Over Epstein Case, SLAMS Own Supporters, Calls It Democrat HOAX
47.6K115 -
LIVE
Donut Operator
2 hours agoCRIME/ CYCLISTS ARE SCUM/ GAMEBOY CAMERA CHAD
655 watching -
LIVE
Viss
2 hours ago🔴LIVE - Improve Your Battle Royale Tactics with These Strategies! - PUBG
125 watching -
LIVE
Side Scrollers Podcast
2 hours agoZelda Actress NOT a Dude, Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Auction, Evil Elmo Update | Side Scrollers LIVE
254 watching -
1:43:52
Nikko Ortiz
2 hours agoLive - Ready Or Not Update
3.62K -
LIVE
The Charlie Kirk Show
1 hour agoThe Epstein "Hoax?" + The Polling Picture + AMA | Baris | 7.16.25
4,566 watching -
LIVE
Rebel News
51 minutes agoAlberta Next panel kickoff, End the dairy cartel, Poilievre rejects separatism | Buffalo Roundtable
291 watching -
DVR
Neil McCoy-Ward
56 minutes ago🚨 IT'S ALL KICKING OFF!
-
20:28
IsaacButterfield
8 hours ago $0.22 earnedGen Z Is Creating a Whole Generation of Psychopaths
9986