Scientists from the American Space Agency (NASA) say that Mars had an atmosphere similar to Earth's, but it has thinned under the influence of solar winds, it was announced at a press conference that started tonight at 20:XNUMX our time.
In the past, solar winds were much more common, and this is precisely the reason why Mars was rapidly losing its atmosphere.
They explained that this did not happen with the Earth's atmosphere because of its strong magnetic field that protects our planet from harmful influences from space.
Mars just getting whipped by solar winds. @NASA @MAVEN2Mars #March pic.twitter.com/JI9hL9hzSK
— Ed Jones (@F4steddy) November 5, 2015
Scientists from NASA believe that Mars was once covered with large water surfaces, but that the amount of water decreased along with the thinning of the atmosphere.
Mars also had a magnetic field, but it "went out" about 4,2 billion years ago, scientists say.
That's when the process of losing the atmosphere began and lasted until 3,7 billion years ago. In that period, the Sun was very active and the solar winds more intense.
Mars is a cold & barren desert today. Solar wind stripped away its atmosphere: https://t.co/gUTToNj6dV @MAVEN2Mars https://t.co/AKOMe80yb2
- NASA (@NASA) November 5, 2015
As announced at the conference, at this stage of the existence of the solar system, there is little chance that a similar fate will befall our planet.
The data collected by the Maven spacecraft were presented at this press conference.
Mars just getting whipped by solar winds. @NASA @MAVEN2Mars #March pic.twitter.com/JI9hL9hzSK
— Ed Jones (@F4steddy) November 5, 2015
Bonus video: