The interior of Mars has been studied using seismic data collected by NASA's InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) lander for about 4 years.

The interior of Mars has been studied using seismic data collected by NASA's InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) lander for about 4 years.

Scientists have gotten a view of the Red Planet's deepest layers thanks to waves from marsquakes.

Scientists have gotten a view of the Red Planet's deepest layers thanks to waves from marsquakes.

Researchers may now focus on the crust thanks to a meteor strike, which improves our knowledge of the planet's structure and history.

Researchers may now focus on the crust thanks to a meteor strike, which improves our knowledge of the planet's structure and history.

A 4.0 marsquake's worth of vibrations were detected by InSight on December 24, 2021. Later confirmed by satellite pictures to be a 150-meter-wide crater

A 4.0 marsquake's worth of vibrations were detected by InSight on December 24, 2021. Later confirmed by satellite pictures to be a 150-meter-wide crater

thousands of kilometres from the lander, a meteor had struck. It's not unusual for a meteor to strike Mars; InSight has recorded several hits throughout its existence.

thousands of kilometres from the lander, a meteor had struck. It's not unusual for a meteor to strike Mars; InSight has recorded several hits throughout its existence.

But unlike earlier documented impacts, this one thrilled seismologists because it was powerful enough to generate surface waves.

But unlike earlier documented impacts, this one thrilled seismologists because it was powerful enough to generate surface waves.

Surface waves move across the topmost layer of a planet, as its name suggests. Seismometers on InSight had only previously captured "body" waves, which penetrate the mantle deeply.

Surface waves move across the topmost layer of a planet, as its name suggests. Seismometers on InSight had only previously captured "body" waves, which penetrate the mantle deeply.

a geophysicist at ETH Zurich and coauthor of a research that examines the effect and was published in Science. Planetary seismologist Ceri Nunn of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

a geophysicist at ETH Zurich and coauthor of a research that examines the effect and was published in Science. Planetary seismologist Ceri Nunn of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory