Mars Global Surveyor MAG/ER
MGS MAG/ER Publications and Presentations
MGS MAG/ER Animations
Demagnetization of the Martian Crust by Giant Impacts
The giant impacts that took place less than 500 million years after the
formation of Mars and throughout the Solar System caused the destruction of
the magnetized crust of the planet. The
animation (5.1 MB mpeg) shows regions of positive
(red) and negative (blue) radial magnetization on Mars prior to and after
the impact of a large asteroid or similar body. Note the disappearance of
magnetic regions after cooling [below the Curie point] of the crust
affected by the impact. This was due to the absence at this time of a
global magnetic field of internal origin.
Last Modified: 13 February 2001
Curator: Patricia Lawton, Emergent
Email: Patricia.Lawton@gsfc.nasa.gov
Responsible NASA Representative: Mario Acuņa
Email: Mario.H.Acuna.1@gsfc.nasa.gov