New scientific reports are providing spectacular details on the Comet Siding Spring’s close encounter with the planet Mars. According to NASA investigators, the effects of the encounter on the Martian magnetosphere were as dramatic as they were surprising. In October of 2014, the comet passed within 87,000 miles of the red planet, and scientists with NASA’s Maven mission were amazed at the effects on Mars’ upper atmosphere. MAVEN team member Jared Espl-ey said in a recent statement, “We think the encounter blew away part of Mars’ upper atmosphere, much like a strong solar storm would….The main action took place during the comet’s closest approach, but the planet’s magnetosphere began to feel some effects as soon as it entered the outer edge of the comet’s coma.”
In this Space News, we explain why these dramatic effects of a comet on a planet are to be expected if comets are electrically charged bodies.
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