Multiple Discoveries on Mars

Psalm 19:1
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

In these Creation Moments, I have sometimes criticized the search for life on Mars by the various space expeditions conducted on the red planet. This might lead listeners to suppose that I disagree with space missions to Mars. I do not. David insisted that “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). So many things found in these current explorations are fascinating.

The InSight mission has landed “a seismometer for detecting quakes, sensors for gauging wind and air pressure, a magnetometer, and a heat flow probe designed to take the planet’s temperature” on the planet’s surface. These have all delivered a huge amount of information about the surface conditions and structure of Mars.

The magnetometer is particularly interesting. Mars has no appreciable magnetic field, yet there is detectable, though small, magnetism on the surface.

Mars does have a detectable atmosphere. While much less than that on Earth, its atmosphere nevertheless undergoes weather conditions. InSight’s instruments measure this. Perhaps seismology and radio signals will help us to understand what the core of the planet is like.

And, elsewhere, the famous Mars Rovers yield beautiful, though bleak, photographs of the surface of Mars, which I, for one, find interesting.

You don’t have to agree with me on this. But in my opinion, I believe God is pleased with our voyages of discovery. Correctly founded, new discoveries in space cause us to praise Him all the more.

Prayer: Everything in the heavens, as on the Earth, was made by You, Lord God. We praise You for the beauty of Your design and the greatness of Your power. Amen.

Author: Paul F. Taylor

Ref: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “A year of surprising science from NASA’s InSight Mars mission: New papers summarize the lander’s findings above and below the surface of the Red Planet.” ScienceDaily, 24 February 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224151502.htm>. Image: NASA, Public Domain.

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