Impact events on Mars

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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter image of a newly-formed Martian impact crater at Solis Planum in 2013. This crater spans 30 meters (98 ft) in diameter and is surrounded by dark ejecta rays extending up to 15 kilometers (9.3 mi).

In modern times, numerous impact events on

fireball
or discovered in space before impact.

Overview

As the best-explored planet in the Solar System (after Earth), Mars has been continuously explored by various spacecraft, landers, and rovers since 1997. The first probe to image Mars's surface in detail was Mariner 4 in 1965, and Mariner 9 became the first probe to orbit Mars in 1971. However, few early probes were able to image Mars in high enough resolution to detect new impact craters, which are typically less than 10 meters (33 ft) across.[2] Early probes reached resolutions of 790 meters (2,590 ft), while Mariner 9 was able to reach 98 meters (322 ft).[3] From 1976 to 1982, Viking 1 and Viking 2 imaged all of Mars at 150 meters (490 ft) resolution, with some areas imaged in up to 8 meters (26 ft) resolution.[4]

The Mars Global Surveyor, active from 1997 to 2006, was the first spacecraft able to image Mars in high enough resolution to detect new impacts, with a resolution of up to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft). The first detected impact, a 14.4-meter (47 ft)-diameter crater in southern Lucus Planum, happened between 27 January 2000, and 19 March 2001.[2] Since then, over 1,200 new impact craters have been found on Mars with 2001 Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, over 1,100 of which were found by the last.[2]

Unlike on Earth, most impact craters on Mars come in clusters, caused by the meteor partially fragmenting before impact.[5] Due to Mars's tenuous atmosphere, with just 0.6% the surface pressure of Earth's, incoming meteors are much less prone to breaking up.[6] while a 10-meter (33 ft) asteroid falling over Earth is unlikely to reach the surface intact before being destroyed in a meteor air burst,[7] a 10-meter (33 ft) asteroid falling over Mars may leave a crater over 100 meters (330 ft) across,[8] or several smaller craters tens of meters across.[9]

There is significant observation bias in the locations of discovered impact craters: certain locations on Mars are of much more geological interest, and so are imaged more frequently and in detail than less notable ones.[5] Additionally, many new craters are first noticed by their 'blast zone' of ejecta, which can be 10-100 times the size of the crater itself.[5] However, only certain regions of Mars have subsurface material that can be ejected to create these features; in particular, the Tharsis rise, Olympus Mons, Elysium Mons, and Arabia Terra. As a result, very few impacts have been detected outside of these regions, despite impacts in theory happening randomly across the planet.[5]

Despite these biases, the existing observations of new Martian impacts suggest that asteroids of a given size impacting the planet are about 3 times more common than on Earth and the Moon,[10] with roughly 240 4-meter (13 ft) craters and one to seven 30-meter (98 ft) craters forming each year[11] (compared to the observed ~0.8). Larger impactors also seem to be more relatively frequent than on Earth or the Moon (i.e. the size-frequency distribution slope is shallower).[12] If this holds true for larger asteroid sizes, this suggests that Mars may be in a modern impact surge,[12] although atmospheric deceleration of small asteroids might explain the unexpectedly shallow slope, which would become more consistent with predictions for larger asteroids.[12]

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Map of detected impacts on Mars. Green are notable <15-meter (49 ft) craters, yellow are 15–20-meter (49–66 ft) craters, orange are 20–50-meter (66–164 ft) craters, red are 50–100-meter (160–330 ft) craters, and purple are >100-meter (330 ft) craters.

List of notable impacts

The following is a list of detected impact events with a crater size of >15 meters, which excludes most meteoroid impacts (<1 meter asteroids). 10-15 meter craters discovered before 2010 are also included, before the rate of discovering such craters became dozens per year.

Date[2] Details[2] Discovery[2] Location[2] Notes
Discovery date Median
impact date
[note 1]
Uncertainty
(days)
Crater
diameter
(m)
Impactor
diameter
(m)
[note 2][13]
Impactor
mass
(tonnes)
[note 2][13]
Ice-exposing? Discovery
spacecraft
Reference
spacecraft
quadrangle
Region Coordinates
2001-03-19 2000-08-22 208 14.4 0.92–2.8 1.2–11 no MGS MGS Memnonia Lucus Planum 8°47′10″S 182°40′23″E / 8.786°S 182.673°E / -8.786; 182.673
2001-12-05 2000-09-13 447 37.3 2.7–8.0 29–260 no MGS MGS Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 0°55′59″N 191°44′46″E / 0.933°N 191.746°E / 0.933; 191.746
2002-10-08 2002-02-14 236 19.9 1.3–4.0 3.5–34 no MGS MGS Lunae Palus Tharsis Rise 4°57′43″N 277°47′20″E / 4.962°N 277.789°E / 4.962; 277.789
2003-04-15 1990-07-29 4643 15.3 0.99–3.0 1.5–14 no MGS Viking 1 Amazonis Olympus Mons 22°48′50″N 219°54′36″E / 22.814°N 219.910°E / 22.814; 219.910
2003-05-07 2002-12-02 155 22.6 1.5–4.6 5.5–50 no MGS Odyssey Arabia Arabia Terra 20°25′37″N 3°17′42″E / 20.427°N 3.295°E / 20.427; 3.295
2003-07-17 2001-11-12 611 17.5 1.1–3.4 2.3–21 no MGS MGS Phoenicis Lacus Daedalia Planum 3°36′58″S 234°14′35″E / 3.616°S 234.243°E / -3.616; 234.243
2003-08-20 2001-07-11 770 25.2 1.7–5.1 8.0–72 no Odyssey MGS Amazonis Tharsis Rise 5°28′08″N 224°21′11″E / 5.469°N 224.353°E / 5.469; 224.353
2003-12-11 2002-08-06 491 24.5 1.7–5.0 7.3–65 no MGS MGS Arabia Arabia Terra 21°57′29″N 14°36′18″E / 21.958°N 14.605°E / 21.958; 14.605
2004-01-27 2003-11-19 69 12.0 0.75–2.3 0.67–6.0 no Odyssey Odyssey Amazonis Eumenides Dorsum 1°41′10″N 199°22′55″E / 1.686°N 199.382°E / 1.686; 199.382
2004-02-07 2003-09-12 147 16.8 1.1–3.3 2.1–18 no Odyssey MGS Tharsis Uranius Mons 27°03′18″N 268°19′55″E / 27.055°N 268.332°E / 27.055; 268.332
2004-04-22 2004-03-07 45 10.6 0.66–2.0 0.44–4.0 no Odyssey MGS Amazonis Tharsis Rise 5°21′11″N 223°19′26″E / 5.353°N 223.324°E / 5.353; 223.324
2004-05-15 2004-04-19 25 33.5 2.4–7.1 21–180 no Odyssey Odyssey Amazonis Tharsis Rise 2°28′44″N 224°06′18″E / 2.479°N 224.105°E / 2.479; 224.105
2004-06-25 2003-08-30 299 10.0 0.61–1.8 0.36–3.3 no Odyssey Odyssey Memnonia Eumenides Dorsum 0°45′18″S 200°03′58″E / 0.755°S 200.066°E / -0.755; 200.066
2005-01-06 2003-11-01 432 58.2 4.3–13 130–1200 no Odyssey Odyssey Mare Acidalium Arabia Terra 34°40′55″N 352°58′52″E / 34.682°N 352.981°E / 34.682; 352.981
2005-03-21 2002-04-20 1066 36.4 2.6–7.7 27–240 no MGS MGS Lunae Palus
Lunae Planum
5°07′52″N 290°35′28″E / 5.131°N 290.591°E / 5.131; 290.591
2005-04-29 2004-05-01 362 10.7 0.66–2.0 0.46–4.1 no MGS MGS Arabia Arabia Terra 28°59′24″N 26°55′34″E / 28.990°N 26.926°E / 28.990; 26.926
2005-06-08 2005-04-06 62 53.9 4.0–12 100–900 no MGS MGS Coprates Tithoniae Fossae 2°21′18″S 278°15′32″E / 2.355°S 278.259°E / -2.355; 278.259
2005-06-13 2003-04-10 795 15.6 1.0–3.0 1.6–14 no MGS MGS Syrtis Major Terra Sabaea 23°05′13″N 52°52′44″E / 23.087°N 52.879°E / 23.087; 52.879
2005-06-22 2004-07-20 337 10.6 0.66–2.0 0.44–4.0 no Odyssey Odyssey Tharsis Tharsis Montes 3°23′49″N 253°54′36″E / 3.397°N 253.910°E / 3.397; 253.910
2005-09-07 2005-05-06 123 12.9 0.82–2.5 0.85–7.7 no Express Express Lunae Palus
Lunae Planum
1°05′24″N 284°25′12″E / 1.090°N 284.420°E / 1.090; 284.420
2005-11-26 2004-12-01 359 16.7 1.1–3.3 2.0–18 no Odyssey MGS Arabia Arabia Terra 26°09′29″N 23°37′41″E / 26.158°N 23.628°E / 26.158; 23.628
2006-01-06 2005-06-10 210 18.6 1.2–3.7 2.9–26 no MGS Odyssey Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 13°51′04″N 206°34′55″E / 13.851°N 206.582°E / 13.851; 206.582
2006-01-12 2004-09-12 487 20.8 1.4–4.2 4.2–38 no MGS MGS Tharsis Tharsis Montes 10°22′30″N 250°12′58″E / 10.375°N 250.216°E / 10.375; 250.216
2006-01-31 2006-01-10 20 21.7 1.5–4.4 4.8–43 no MGS Odyssey Syrtis Major Terra Sabaea 25°36′04″N 52°08′49″E / 25.601°N 52.147°E / 25.601; 52.147
2006-02-07 2005-02-06 366 12.1 0.76–2.3 0.69–6.2 no Odyssey Odyssey Amazonis Marte Vallis 4°46′16″N 180°08′42″E / 4.771°N 180.145°E / 4.771; 180.145
2006-02-13 2005-12-25 50 10.6 0.66–2.0 0.44–4.0 no MGS Odyssey Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 19°46′26″N 207°25′30″E / 19.774°N 207.425°E / 19.774; 207.425
2006-02-14 2005-03-28 323 29.3 2.0–6.1 13–120 no MGS Odyssey Phoenicis Lacus Daedalia Planum 0°01′59″S 226°54′25″E / 0.033°S 226.907°E / -0.033; 226.907
2006-02-21 2006-02-08 12 15.4 0.99–3.0 1.5–14 no Odyssey Odyssey Tharsis Ceraunius Tholus 24°40′34″N 261°31′19″E / 24.676°N 261.522°E / 24.676; 261.522
2006-02-25 2006-01-10 45 11.0 0.68–2.0 0.50–4.5 no Express Express Phoenicis Lacus Noctis Labyrinthus 4°22′12″S 264°35′53″E / 4.370°S 264.598°E / -4.370; 264.598
2006-02-26 2005-02-21 370 16.9 1.1–3.3 2.1–19 no MGS Odyssey Lunae Palus Tharsis Rise 13°42′32″N 275°40′26″E / 13.709°N 275.674°E / 13.709; 275.674
2006-02-26 2005-09-04 174 17.7 1.2–3.5 2.4–22 no MGS Express Arabia Arabia Terra 28°27′18″N 25°11′46″E / 28.455°N 25.196°E / 28.455; 25.196
2006-02-26 2005-12-07 87 36.8 2.6–7.8 28–250 no MGS Odyssey Tharsis Tharsis Montes 6°59′20″N 247°54′50″E / 6.989°N 247.914°E / 6.989; 247.914
2006-07-10 2005-04-11 454 11.2 0.70–2.1 0.53–4.8 no Express Express Phoenicis Lacus Noctis Labyrinthus 4°32′42″S 256°54′50″E / 4.545°S 256.914°E / -4.545; 256.914
2006-07-13 2005-10-30 255 10.8 0.67–2.0 0.47–4.2 no Express Odyssey Elysium Phlegra Rise 29°29′49″N 155°49′30″E / 29.497°N 155.825°E / 29.497; 155.825
2007-03-27 2004-11-25 851 14.3 0.91–2.7 1.2–11 no MRO Odyssey Lunae Palus Labeatis Fossae 27°36′47″N 279°31′34″E / 27.613°N 279.526°E / 27.613; 279.526
2007-04-06 2006-01-12 449 13.0 0.82–2.5 0.87–7.9 no MRO Odyssey Margaritifer Sinus Aureum Chaos 6°03′25″S 334°20′31″E / 6.057°S 334.342°E / -6.057; 334.342
2007-04-14 2006-09-26 199 10.1 0.62–1.9 0.38–3.4 no MRO Odyssey Phoenicis Lacus Daedalia Planum 3°06′25″S 233°06′18″E / 3.107°S 233.105°E / -3.107; 233.105
2007-10-15 2007-05-30 137 10.3 0.64–1.9 0.40–3.6 no MRO MRO Tharsis Tharsis Montes 16°36′43″N 246°18′54″E / 16.612°N 246.315°E / 16.612; 246.315
2007-11-27 2006-07-28 487 22.0 1.5–4.4 5.1–45 maybe MRO Express Cebrenia Galaxias Colles 39°22′23″N 149°22′23″E / 39.373°N 149.373°E / 39.373; 149.373
2007-12-20 2007-07-02 171 16.0 1.0–3.1 1.7–16 no MRO MRO Tharsis Tharsis Tholus 14°31′26″N 268°51′00″E / 14.524°N 268.850°E / 14.524; 268.850
2008-05-01 2007-02-21 434 36.2 2.6–7.7 27–240 no MRO Odyssey Memnonia Mangala Valles 7°03′07″S 210°15′47″E / 7.052°S 210.263°E / -7.052; 210.263
2008-05-07 2007-01-07 486 10.3 0.64–1.9 0.40–3.6 no MRO Odyssey Tharsis Fortuna Fossae 2°23′10″N 266°43′30″E / 2.386°N 266.725°E / 2.386; 266.725
2008-05-09 2006-11-20 536 12.3 0.77–2.3 0.73–6.5 no MRO Odyssey Phoenicis Lacus Tharsis Montes 1°16′48″S 250°07′12″E / 1.280°S 250.120°E / -1.280; 250.120
2008-06-15 2006-11-14 578 15.0 0.96–2.9 1.4–13 no MRO Express Ismenius Lacus Arabia Terra 32°44′49″N 37°37′55″E / 32.747°N 37.632°E / 32.747; 37.632
2008-06-28 2006-07-01 728 12.0 0.75–2.3 0.67–6.0 yes MRO Odyssey Diacria Arcadia Planitia 46°10′44″N 188°29′42″E / 46.179°N 188.495°E / 46.179; 188.495
2008-06-29 2006-10-18 619 11.6 0.72–2.2 0.60–5.4 maybe MRO Odyssey Diacria Acheron Fossae 40°19′19″N 221°13′19″E / 40.322°N 221.222°E / 40.322; 221.222
2008-11-14 2008-07-22 114 17.5 1.1–3.4 2.3–21 no Express Odyssey Tharsis Tharsis Montes 5°27′18″N 262°19′05″E / 5.455°N 262.318°E / 5.455; 262.318
2008-12-14 2007-09-03 468 10.1 0.62–1.9 0.38–3.4 no Odyssey Express Tharsis Ulysses Fossae 14°15′11″N 237°57′43″E / 14.253°N 237.962°E / 14.253; 237.962
2009-01-02 2006-12-13 751 12.4 0.78–2.3 0.75–6.7 no Odyssey Express Tharsis Rhabon Valles 21°26′31″N 267°13′26″E / 21.442°N 267.224°E / 21.442; 267.224
2009-02-18 2008-01-16 399 11.1 0.69–2.1 0.52–4.6 no MRO MRO Elysium Marte Vallis 5°32′35″N 177°53′28″E / 5.543°N 177.891°E / 5.543; 177.891
2009-04-07 2007-11-24 499 10.3 0.64–1.9 0.40–3.6 no MRO Express Phoenicis Lacus Noctis Labyrinthus 6°19′30″S 254°43′01″E / 6.325°S 254.717°E / -6.325; 254.717
2009-05-03 2007-06-30 673 15.0 0.96–2.9 1.4–13 no MRO Express Memnonia Lucus Planum 5°48′47″S 190°22′16″E / 5.813°S 190.371°E / -5.813; 190.371
2009-05-10 2007-05-17 724 10.1 0.62–1.9 0.38–3.4 no MRO Odyssey Phoenicis Lacus Daedalia Planum 5°44′02″S 226°24′50″E / 5.734°S 226.414°E / -5.734; 226.414
2009-05-20 2008-03-25 421 36.0 2.6–7.7 26–240 no MRO MRO Phoenicis Lacus Pavonis Mons 0°37′48″S 248°54′47″E / 0.630°S 248.913°E / -0.630; 248.913
2009-05-22 2008-09-12 252 10.7 0.66–2.0 0.46–4.1 no MRO MRO Tharsis Gordii Fossae 14°45′36″N 230°06′54″E / 14.760°N 230.115°E / 14.760; 230.115
2009-06-01 2007-06-29 703 16.4 1.1–3.2 1.9–17 no MRO Express Memnonia Eumenides Dorsum 1°29′46″S 200°37′30″E / 1.496°S 200.625°E / -1.496; 200.625
2009-07-10 2007-12-08 580 21.9 1.5–4.4 5.0–45 no MRO Odyssey Phoenicis Lacus Noctis Labyrinthus 7°18′07″S 258°08′28″E / 7.302°S 258.141°E / -7.302; 258.141
2009-08-05 2007-05-02 825 10.8 0.67–2.0 0.47–4.2 no MRO Odyssey Memnonia Daedalia Planum 4°13′08″S 220°33′04″E / 4.219°S 220.551°E / -4.219; 220.551
2009-08-16 2007-12-24 601 23.3 1.6–4.7 6.1–55 no MRO Express Syrtis Major Arabia Terra 29°26′13″N 49°08′53″E / 29.437°N 49.148°E / 29.437; 49.148
2009-12-24 2009-01-09 349 10.1 0.62–1.9 0.38–3.4 no MRO Express Tharsis Tharsis Montes 13°14′35″N 260°57′11″E / 13.243°N 260.953°E / 13.243; 260.953
2009-12-28 2007-08-01 880 12.3 0.77–2.3 0.73–6.5 no MRO Express Ismenius Lacus Arabia Terra 32°17′38″N 28°57′32″E / 32.294°N 28.959°E / 32.294; 28.959
2010-01-18 2007-10-31 809 18.4 1.2–3.6 2.8–25 no MRO Express Sinus Sabaeus Terra Sabaea 1°19′34″S 30°47′56″E / 1.326°S 30.799°E / -1.326; 30.799
2010-01-21 2007-12-24 758 20.6 1.4–4.1 4.1–36 no MRO Express Phoenicis Lacus Noctis Fossae 3°47′31″S 264°48′04″E / 3.792°S 264.801°E / -3.792; 264.801
2010-01-24 2009-06-25 227 33.8 2.4–7.1 21–190 yes MRO Odyssey Cebrenia Phlegra Montes 44°13′19″N 164°12′04″E / 44.222°N 164.201°E / 44.222; 164.201
2010-03-25 2009-03-25 364 20.0 1.3–4.0 3.7–33 yes MRO Odyssey Ismenius Lacus Vastitas Borealis 63°55′08″N 44°52′41″E / 63.919°N 44.878°E / 63.919; 44.878
2010-08-20 2010-05-31 80 17.4 1.1–3.4 2.3–21 no MRO MRO Cebrenia Utopia Planitia 41°01′01″N 126°18′04″E / 41.017°N 126.301°E / 41.017; 126.301
2010-09-18 2007-07-02 1173 16.2 1.1–3.2 1.8–16 no MRO Odyssey Phoenicis Lacus Daedalia Planum 8°39′00″S 225°02′53″E / 8.650°S 225.048°E / -8.650; 225.048
2010-10-08 2008-08-30 768 17.8 1.2–3.5 2.5–22 no Odyssey Express Lunae Palus Echus Palus 13°21′54″N 283°46′16″E / 13.365°N 283.771°E / 13.365; 283.771
2010-10-23 2009-08-17 431 16.1 1.0–3.1 1.8–16 no Odyssey MRO Tharsis Tharsis Rise 22°46′26″N 247°35′28″E / 22.774°N 247.591°E / 22.774; 247.591
2010-11-23 2010-03-10 258 17.6 1.2–3.5 2.4–22 no Odyssey MRO Diacria Acheron Fossae 35°52′08″N 230°52′23″E / 35.869°N 230.873°E / 35.869; 230.873
2012-02-03 2011-12-04 61 16.1 1.0–3.1 1.8–16 no MRO MRO Aeolis Avernus Cavi 4°31′34″S 172°27′07″E / 4.526°S 172.452°E / -4.526; 172.452
2012-02-18 2010-06-24 604 16.7 1.1–3.3 2.0–18 no MRO MRO Memnonia Daedalia Planum 1°45′04″S 221°17′38″E / 1.751°S 221.294°E / -1.751; 221.294
2012-03-11 2010-04-02 708 21.2 1.4–4.2 4.5–40 no MRO Odyssey Tharsis Tharsis Rise 15°56′31″N 248°36′47″E / 15.942°N 248.613°E / 15.942; 248.613
2012-03-26 2011-12-26 91 24.2 1.6–4.9 6.9–62 no MRO MRO Mare Tyrrhenum Terra Cimmeria 14°25′59″S 132°42′00″E / 14.433°S 132.700°E / -14.433; 132.700
2012-03-28 2012-03-27 0 48.7 3.6–11 71–640 no MRO MRO Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 3°21′00″N 219°24′14″E / 3.350°N 219.404°E / 3.350; 219.404
2012-05-09 2010-03-07 793 19.6 1.3–3.9 3.4–31 no MRO Express Arabia Terra Sabaea 2°02′13″N 44°32′46″E / 2.037°N 44.546°E / 2.037; 44.546
2012-05-16 2011-06-20 331 22.8 1.5–4.6 5.7–51 no MRO MRO Syrtis Major Terra Sabaea 3°40′48″N 53°25′41″E / 3.680°N 53.428°E / 3.680; 53.428
2012-07-05 2010-08-29 675 16.1 1.0–3.1 1.8–16 yes MRO MRO Diacria Erebus Montes 39°06′32″N 190°15′11″E / 39.109°N 190.253°E / 39.109; 190.253
2012-07-12 2010-05-12 792 15.3 0.99–3.0 1.5–14 no MRO MRO Arabia Arabia Terra 28°36′11″N 36°51′18″E / 28.603°N 36.855°E / 28.603; 36.855
2012-10-25 2010-08-26 791 18.1 1.2–3.6 2.6–24 no MRO MRO Syrtis Major Syrtis Major Planum 5°59′53″N 68°58′08″E / 5.998°N 68.969°E / 5.998; 68.969
2013-02-11 2010-07-30 927 30.2 2.1–6.3 15–130 no MRO Odyssey Thaumasia Solis Planum 31°23′28″S 287°54′25″E / 31.391°S 287.907°E / -31.391; 287.907
2013-06-08 2012-09-22 259 16.3 1.1–3.2 1.9–17 no MRO MRO Iapygia Terra Sabaea 6°55′26″S 66°56′49″E / 6.924°S 66.947°E / -6.924; 66.947
2013-06-21 2010-05-29 1118 24.0 1.6–4.9 6.7–61 no MRO MRO Mare Tyrrhenum Terra Cimmeria 5°22′01″S 132°08′17″E / 5.367°S 132.138°E / -5.367; 132.138 314 kilometers (195 mi) from
Curiosity rover (not yet landed?)
2014-02-06 2013-01-29 372 15.1 0.97–2.9 1.4–13 no MRO MRO Arcadia Tempe Fossae 34°11′31″N 280°15′40″E / 34.192°N 280.261°E / 34.192; 280.261
2014-02-19 2010-12-20 1157 24.0 1.6–4.9 6.7–61 no MRO Odyssey Arabia Terra Sabaea 14°51′00″N 43°53′35″E / 14.850°N 43.893°E / 14.850; 43.893
2014-03-14 2011-03-17 1093 16.0 1.0–3.1 1.7–16 no MRO MRO Diacria Amazonis Planitia 32°17′28″N 212°56′53″E / 32.291°N 212.948°E / 32.291; 212.948
2014-03-15 2011-02-15 1124 16.7 1.1–3.3 2.0–18 no MRO Express Arabia Arabia Terra 29°12′14″N 22°10′37″E / 29.204°N 22.177°E / 29.204; 22.177
2014-03-26 2012-02-16 768 15.7 1.0–3.0 1.6–15 no MRO Odyssey Phoenicis Lacus Daedalia Planum 13°25′01″S 225°54′00″E / 13.417°S 225.900°E / -13.417; 225.900
2014-05-07 2011-03-20 1144 27.5 1.9–5.6 10–91 no MRO Express Amenthes Isidis Planitia 14°42′36″N 99°48′22″E / 14.710°N 99.806°E / 14.710; 99.806
2014-05-23 2009-11-30 1635 15.3 0.99–3.0 1.5–14 no MRO Odyssey Lunae Palus Sacra Dorsa 8°12′04″N 290°26′02″E / 8.201°N 290.434°E / 8.201; 290.434
2014-07-01 2011-04-04 1184 21.0 1.4–4.2 4.3–39 no MRO Express Tharsis Tharsis Rise 6°15′14″N 264°26′38″E / 6.254°N 264.444°E / 6.254; 264.444
2014-11-30 2013-05-13 565 15.8 1.0–3.1 1.7–15 no MRO Odyssey Tharsis Tharsis Rise 8°38′06″N 239°25′37″E / 8.635°N 239.427°E / 8.635; 239.427
2015-01-18 2011-06-06 1321 19.9 1.3–4.0 3.5–34 no MRO MRO Arabia Arabia Terra 27°39′25″N 11°35′49″E / 27.657°N 11.597°E / 27.657; 11.597
2015-09-09 2013-08-02 768 21.8 1.5–4.4 4.9–44 no MRO MRO Tharsis Tharsis Rise 13°07′19″N 244°11′20″E / 13.122°N 244.189°E / 13.122; 244.189
2016-02-06 2011-08-01 1649 15.5 1.0–3.0 1.6–14 no MRO MRO Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 24°56′56″N 193°07′37″E / 24.949°N 193.127°E / 24.949; 193.127
2016-04-15 2012-07-02 1383 16.3 1.1–3.2 1.9–17 no MRO MRO Elysium Elysium Planitia 25°17′24″N 155°31′23″E / 25.290°N 155.523°E / 25.290; 155.523
2016-05-28 2015-12-29 151 27.9 1.9–5.8 11–100 no MRO MRO Tharsis Sulci Gordii 16°39′32″N 233°17′02″E / 16.659°N 233.284°E / 16.659; 233.284
2016-05-30 2013-08-07 1027 48.0 3.5–11 68–610 yes MRO MRO Ismenius Lacus Terra Sabaea 41°27′50″N 48°45′54″E / 41.464°N 48.765°E / 41.464; 48.765
2016-06-02 2012-05-03 1491 16.0 1.0–3.1 1.7–16 yes MRO MRO Ismenius Lacus Ismeniae Fossae 41°54′47″N 36°25′34″E / 41.913°N 36.426°E / 41.913; 36.426
2016-07-22 2012-04-09 1564 18.2 1.2–3.6 2.7–24 no MRO Express Amenthes
Nepenthes Planum
11°58′23″N 126°17′20″E / 11.973°N 126.289°E / 11.973; 126.289
2016-09-10 2014-07-12 790 17.2 1.1–3.4 2.2–20 no MRO MRO Memnonia Terra Sirenum 15°37′55″S 181°04′16″E / 15.632°S 181.071°E / -15.632; 181.071 321 kilometers (199 mi) from
Spirit rover (defunct).
2016-10-10 2012-07-15 1547 36.6 2.6–7.8 28–250 no MRO Odyssey Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 11°02′31″N 193°00′32″E / 11.042°N 193.009°E / 11.042; 193.009
2016-11-19 2013-08-19 1187 15.6 1.0–3.0 1.6–14 no MRO Odyssey Elysium Elysium Planitia 11°18′40″N 138°16′44″E / 11.311°N 138.279°E / 11.311; 138.279 425 kilometres (264 mi) from
InSight (not yet landed).
2016-12-02 2012-12-27 1436 29.6 2.1–6.2 14–120 no MRO MRO Elysium Marte Vallis 7°48′25″N 176°27′04″E / 7.807°N 176.451°E / 7.807; 176.451
2017-05-29 2013-09-08 1358 32.5 2.3–6.8 19–170 no MRO MRO Tharsis Tharsis Rise 9°15′40″N 241°53′38″E / 9.261°N 241.894°E / 9.261; 241.894
2017-10-01 2014-01-25 1345 19.5 1.3–3.9 3.4–30 no MRO MRO Tharsis Olympus Mons 14°41′56″N 227°22′08″E / 14.699°N 227.369°E / 14.699; 227.369
2017-11-12 2015-12-02 710 15.7 1.0–3.0 1.6–15 no MRO MRO Syrtis Major Terra Sabaea 13°18′32″N 54°27′40″E / 13.309°N 54.461°E / 13.309; 54.461
2018-01-11 2015-02-05 1070 17.5 1.1–3.4 2.3–21 no MRO Odyssey Ismenius Lacus Terra Sabaea 35°35′28″N 42°30′22″E / 35.591°N 42.506°E / 35.591; 42.506
2018-03-19 2013-01-08 1895 19.1 1.3–3.8 3.2–28 no MRO MRO Memnonia Daedalia Planum 10°07′19″S 220°46′55″E / 10.122°S 220.782°E / -10.122; 220.782
2018-04-29 2014-03-02 1519 23.3 1.6–4.7 6.1–55 no MRO MRO Syrtis Major Isidis Planitia 21°35′38″N 88°15′18″E / 21.594°N 88.255°E / 21.594; 88.255
2018-05-06 2013-05-28 1803 23.7 1.6–4.8 6.5–58 no MRO MRO Tharsis Ulysses Fossae 6°12′32″N 235°14′42″E / 6.209°N 235.245°E / 6.209; 235.245
2018-05-11 2012-10-02 2047 15.6 1.0–3.0 1.6–14 no MRO MRO Sinus Sabaeus Schiaparelli Crater 2°52′01″S 16°11′56″E / 2.867°S 16.199°E / -2.867; 16.199
2018-08-28 2016-10-24 672 15.6 1.0–3.0 1.6–14 no MRO MRO Tharsis Biblis Tholus 1°51′47″N 236°01′01″E / 1.863°N 236.017°E / 1.863; 236.017
2018-09-14 2018-08-17 27 15.3 0.99–3.0 1.5–14 no MRO MRO Mare Australe Promethei Planum 81°29′28″S 41°20′56″E / 81.491°S 41.349°E / -81.491; 41.349
2018-11-25 2013-08-22 1920 34.3 2.4–7.3 22–200 no MRO MRO Arabia Terra Sabaea 14°23′06″N 24°37′19″E / 14.385°N 24.622°E / 14.385; 24.622
2018-11-26 2016-08-14 833 52.9 3.9–12 94–850 no MRO MRO Noachis Noachis Terra 34°38′56″S 35°58′01″E / 34.649°S 35.967°E / -34.649; 35.967
2018-12-03 2014-04-03 1704 15.5 1.0–3.0 1.6–14 no MRO MRO Tharsis Tharsis Rise 1°54′36″N 264°09′29″E / 1.910°N 264.158°E / 1.910; 264.158
2019-02-04 2017-11-29 432 17.3 1.1–3.4 2.2–20 no MRO MRO Coprates
Sinai Planum
16°25′08″S 274°44′20″E / 16.419°S 274.739°E / -16.419; 274.739
2019-06-02 2018-04-18 409 17.6 1.2–3.5 2.4–22 no MRO MRO Phoenicis Lacus Noctis Labyrinthus 7°22′44″S 258°13′44″E / 7.379°S 258.229°E / -7.379; 258.229
2020-01-06 2019-10-15 83 20.8 1.4–4.2 4.2–38 no MRO MRO Margaritifer Sinus Iazu Crater 2°43′05″S 354°51′47″E / 2.718°S 354.863°E / -2.718; 354.863 26 kilometers (16 mi) from
Opportunity rover (defunct).
74 kilometers (46 mi) from
Schiaparelli EDM (crashed).
2020-05-27 2020-05-27 0 11.9 0.75–2.2 0.65–5.9 no ? ? Elysium Elysium Planitia 9°22′55″N 135°22′37″E / 9.382°N 135.377°E / 9.382; 135.377 Detected by InSight as a
magnitude 2.3 marsquake[14]
2020-06-28 2019-08-03 330 51.6 3.8–11 87–780 no MRO MRO Mare Australe Planum Australe 82°01′48″S 175°42′11″E / 82.030°S 175.703°E / -82.030; 175.703 337 kilometers (209 mi) from
Mars Polar Lander (crashed).
2020-08-01 2017-09-15 1051 54.2 4.0–12 100–920 no MRO Express Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 23°34′59″N 206°52′16″E / 23.583°N 206.871°E / 23.583; 206.871
2021-02-18 2021-02-18 0 3.9 0.22–0.65 0.016–0.14 no ? ? Amenthes Elysium Planitia 4°36′22″N 134°05′13″E / 4.606°N 134.087°E / 4.606; 134.087 Detected by InSight as a
magnitude 1.4 marsquake[14]
2021-08-31 2021-08-31 0 7.2 0.43–1.3 0.12–1.1 no ? ? Elysium Elysium Planitia 0°23′49″N 135°41′17″E / 0.397°N 135.688°E / 0.397; 135.688 Detected by InSight as a
magnitude 1.6 marsquake[14]
2021-09-05 2021-09-05 0 6.1 0.35–1.0 0.070–0.60 no MRO ? Elysium Elysium Planitia 3°58′26″N 136°57′47″E / 3.974°N 136.963°E / 3.974; 136.963 Detected by InSight as a
magnitude 1.2 marsquake[15][14]
2021-09-18 2021-09-18 0 130 11–32 1900–17000 no MRO MRO Arcadia Tempe Fossae 34°48′N 280°07′E / 34.80°N 280.12°E / 34.80; 280.12 Detected by InSight[16]
2021-12-24 2021-12-24 0 150 12–37 3100–27000 yes MRO MRO Amazonis Amazonis Planitia 35°05′17″N 189°49′23″E / 35.088°N 189.823°E / 35.088; 189.823 Detected by InSight as a
magnitude 4 marsquake[8][17]

Notes

  1. ^ As the exact impact date isn't known for most craters, the date provided here is midway between the last pre-impact image and the discovery image.
  2. ^ a b Assuming a meteor velocity of 5-15 km/s, an impact angle of 45°, and a density of 1-3 g/cm3

See also

References

  1. ^ "NASA's InSight Lander Detects Stunning Meteoroid Impact on Mars". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). NASA. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. ^ . Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  3. ^ Pyle, Rod (2012). Destination Mars. . It was the first spacecraft to enter orbit around another world. ... [It] continues to orbit Mars to this day, sailing around the planet deaf and dumb in the cold darkness.
  4. ^ "Viking 1 & 2 Orbiter Archive". atmos.nmsu.edu. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  5. ^
    S2CID 229000379
    . Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  6. ^ "NASA's InSight 'Hears' Its First Meteoroid Impacts on Mars". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). NASA. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  7. ^ Marcus, Robert; Melosh, H. Jay; Collins, Gareth. "Calculated Results (10 meter, 3 g/cm^3 meteor falling over Earth at 25 km/s vertically)". impact.ese.ic.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b Greicius, Tony (27 October 2022). "NASA's InSight Lander Detects Stunning Meteoroid Impact on Mars". NASA. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Pow! Mars Hit By Space Rocks 200 Times a Year". Space.com. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  10. ^ Burnham, R. (30 June 2011). "How often does Mars get whacked?". Red Planet Report. ASU. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  11. . Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  12. ^ a b c McEwen, A.; Daubar, I.; Ivanov, B.; Obest, J.; Malhotra, R.; JeongAhn, Y.; Byrne, S. (2015). "CURRENT IMPACT RATE ON EARTH, MOON, AND MARS" (PDF). Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 46. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Asteroid Impact Crater Calculator - calculates the effects of the impact of an object hitting the earth". www.convertalot.com. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d "NASA's InSight 'Hears' Its First Meteoroid Impacts on Mars". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). NASA. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  15. ^ "InSight Detects an Impact for the First Time". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). NASA. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  16. S2CID 253183826
    . Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Candidate Recent Impact Site (ESP_073077_2155)". hirise.lpl.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2 November 2022.