You can listen the sound of winds on Mars' surface
NASA's InSight lander has recorded the sound of winds blowing on the surface of Mars. The robot, which touched down on the Red Planet 10 days ago, recorded low-frequency rumblings created by winds and transmitted the data back to Earth. These are the first sounds to be heard from Mars and are pretty similar to the windy noises we hear in summers. Here's more.
How InSight captured the sound of Martian wind?
InSight is not rigged to record sounds as its main mission is to delve into the interior of Mars (from core to crust) and help scientists understand the planet's evolution. However, its air pressure sensor and seismometer are capable of detecting low-frequency vibrations generated by the movement of breeze. These rumblings helped NASA scientists produce the sound of Martian wind in the audible range.
Here's what InSight team member said of the sounds
"The InSight lander acts like a giant ear," said Tom Pike, InSight member. "The solar panels on the lander's sides respond to pressure fluctuations of the wind. It's like InSight is cupping its ears and hearing the Mars wind beating on it."
And, the wind here is blowing from northwest to southeast
InSight is preparing to begin its main job and will continue to capture the motion of winds using the same technique. Notably, in the latest recording, the sound of wind suggests that the air is moving southeast at a speed of 10-15mph. This, as NASA said, matches the direction of dust devil streaks in the area, as seen from orbit.
More loud Martian sounds to come
Hearing the sound of winds blowing on an alien planet is great, but soon, we'll get even clearer sounds as NASA's 2020 Mars rover will fly to the Red Planet with two dedicated microphones - one for recording sounds of descent and landing.
