NASA: Comet’s Flyby Of Mars Had ‘Profound’ Effect On Its Magnetic Field
- 8 years ago
NASA has revealed in a recent news release that the Comet Siding Spring’s flyby of Mars in October 2014 had a ‘temporary but profound’ effect on the planet through the clash of magnetic fields.
In October 2014, NASA had a unique opportunity to observe some of the changes on Mars as comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) flew past the Red Planet. According to a recent news release about the event, “the effect was temporary but profound.”
Team member Jared Espley has been quoted as saying, “Comet Siding Spring plunged the magnetic field around Mars into chaos....We think the encounter blew away part of Mars’ upper atmosphere, much like a strong solar storm would.”
In October 2014, NASA had a unique opportunity to observe some of the changes on Mars as comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) flew past the Red Planet. According to a recent news release about the event, “the effect was temporary but profound.”
Team member Jared Espley has been quoted as saying, “Comet Siding Spring plunged the magnetic field around Mars into chaos....We think the encounter blew away part of Mars’ upper atmosphere, much like a strong solar storm would.”