• Question: Why have we mapped Mars in more detail than the ocean floor of our own planet?

    Asked by KillMePotato to Andy, Dwaine, Natt, Priya, Tatiana on 23 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Natt Day

      Natt Day answered on 23 Jun 2015:

      Hey,

      It sounds a little bit ridiculous, doesn’t it? The problem is, mapping the ocean floor is more complicated than mapping Mars/the Moon as we cannot map it using our traditional satellites and radar techniques as the water blocks the radio waves. Instead we have to measure it using lasers and sonar which is a lot more costly and time consuming. Also, as odd as it sounds, the public tend to be a lot more fascinated by discoveries in space compared to our own planet– and that interest probably plays a role in influencing where scientists end up focusing their research!

      Natt

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