NASA's InSight Mars lander uses a seismometer to study the inner layers of Mars. Seismic signals from quakes change as they pass through different kinds of materials; seismologists can read the squiggles of a seismogram to study the properties of the planet's crust, mantle, and core. This infographic shows those layers, and how InSight uses quakes to study them. It also shows a close-up of InSight and the major sources of marsquakes. Most quakes are created by heat and pressure inside the planet, which cause rock to fracture; another source is meteors striking the surface.

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Size: 4801px × 2700px
Photo credit: © NASA/piemags / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., insight, mars