Editing Mars Pathfinder (section)

==Results from ''Pathfinder''==
[[File:Mars sunset PIA00920.jpg|thumb|Close-up of Mars sky at sunset, by ''Mars Pathfinder'' (1997)]]
The lander sent more than 2.3 billion bits (287.5 megabytes) of information including 16,500 pictures and made 8.5 million measurements of the [[atmospheric pressure]], temperature and wind speed.<ref name=jplpathfinder>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars-pathfinder/|title=Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner|work=NASA|access-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623112234/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars-pathfinder/|archive-date=June 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

By taking multiple images of the sky at different distances from the Sun, scientists were able to determine that the size of the particles in the pink haze was about one [[micrometre]] in radius.  The color of some soils was similar to that of an iron oxyhydroxide phase which would support the theory of a warmer and wetter climate in the past.<ref>Smith, P. et al.  1997.  "Results from the Mars Pathfinder Camera" ''Science'': 278.  1758–1765</ref> ''Pathfinder'' carried a series of magnets to examine the magnetic component of the dust. Eventually, all but one of the magnets developed a coating of dust.  Since the weakest magnet did not attract any soil, it was concluded that the airborne dust did not contain pure [[magnetite]] or just one type of [[maghemite]]. The dust probably was an aggregate possibly cemented with [[ferric oxide]] (Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>).<ref>Hviid, S.  et al.  1997.  "Magnetic Properties Experiments on the Mars Pathfinder Lander:  Preliminary Results".  ''Science'':278.  1768–1770.</ref> Using much more sophisticated instruments, [[Spirit Rover|Mars ''Spirit'' rover]] found that magnetite could explain the magnetic nature of the dust and soil on Mars.  Magnetite was found in the soil and the most magnetic part of the soil was dark.  Magnetite is very dark.<ref>Bertelsen, P. et al.  2004.  "Magnetic Properties Experiments on the Mars Exploration rover Spirit at Gusev Crater".  ''Science'': 305. 827–829.</ref>

Using [[Doppler tracking]] and [[two-way ranging]], scientists added earlier measurements from the ''Viking'' landers to determine that the non-hydrostatic component of the polar [[moment of inertia]] is due to the [[Tharsis bulge]] and that the interior is not melted. The central metallic core is between {{cvt|1300|and|2000|km|mi}} in radius.<ref name="Golombek, M 1997">Golombek, M. et al. 1997.  "Overview of the Mars Pathfinder Mission and Assessment of Landing Site Predictions".  ''Science''. Science: 278.  pp. 1743–1748</ref>