# Is there methane in the air at Gale crater? · Mars methane puzzle > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWQM6TWB/is-there-methane-in-the-air-at-gale-crater Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:00+00:00 --- **0** # Is there methane in the air at Gale crater? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Curiosity's detections are the only direct, in-situ measurements of Martian methane, and the orbiter's non-detections can be reconciled with them only by an unknown fast process⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXMNT4W0Z/no-detection-of-methane-on-mars-from-early-exomars-trace-gas)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXPCG3CNM/a-stringent-upper-limit-of-20-pptv-for-methane-on-mars-and). The 2025 re-analysis puts the rover data themselves in question⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXPMA1QTG/questioning-the-reliability-of-methane-detections-on-mars-by). ## Answers 3 [**Methane is present near the surface at Gale at a background of a few tenths of a ppbv, with occasional…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/answers/ANS0D7EXXYP7TFK/methane-is-present-near-the-surface-at-gale-at-a-background) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 4 for, 2 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/answers/ANS0D7EY0MM4YMN/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The rover's methane readings are an instrumental artefact, chiefly methane leaking from the foreoptics…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/answers/ANS0D7EXZNC60BA/the-rovers-methane-readings-are-an-instrumental-artefact) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Still possible ## History 1. 2015[Webster et al. puts forward: methane is present near the surface at Gale at a background of a few tenths of a ppbv, with occasional…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXM667PXG/mars-methane-detection-and-variability-at-gale-crater) 1. 2018[Webster et al.: background 0.41 ± 0.16 ppbv over five years with spikes of about 7 ppbv.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXME03TED/background-levels-of-methane-in-mars-atmosphere-show-strong)For: Methane is present near the surface at Gale at a background of a few tenths of a ppbv, with occasional… 1. 2019[Giuranna et al.: mars Express PFS recorded methane over the Gale region a day after a rover spike in 2013.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXMXM6RHQ/independent-confirmation-of-a-methane-spike-on-mars-and-a)For: Methane is present near the surface at Gale at a background of a few tenths of a ppbv, with occasional… 1. 2020[Webster et al.: ozone cannot be confused with methane at TLS resolution.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXNWW30RE/curiosity-mars-methane-measurements-are-not-confused-by)For: Methane is present near the surface at Gale at a background of a few tenths of a ppbv, with occasional… 1. 2021[Webster et al.: night-time values of 0.52 ± 0.10 ppbv against daytime 0.05 ± 0.22 ppbv in the same season.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXP4P2XCB/day-night-differences-in-mars-methane-suggest-nighttime)For: Methane is present near the surface at Gale at a background of a few tenths of a ppbv, with occasional… 1. 2021[Webster et al.: a strong day-night difference is not an obvious product of a leak.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXP4P2XCB/day-night-differences-in-mars-methane-suggest-nighttime)Against: The rover's methane readings are an instrumental artefact, chiefly methane leaking from the foreoptics… 1. 2021[Montmessin et al.: the orbiter's limits near Gale are up to four times below the rover's background for the same season.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXPCG3CNM/a-stringent-upper-limit-of-20-pptv-for-methane-on-mars-and)For: The rover's methane readings are an instrumental artefact, chiefly methane leaking from the foreoptics… 1. 2025[Viscardy et al. puts forward: the rover's methane readings are an instrumental artefact, chiefly methane leaking from the foreoptics…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXPMA1QTG/questioning-the-reliability-of-methane-detections-on-mars-by) 1. 2025[Viscardy et al.: the foreoptics chamber held methane three to four orders of magnitude above the sample cell; leaks under 0.1…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXPMA1QTG/questioning-the-reliability-of-methane-detections-on-mars-by)Against: Methane is present near the surface at Gale at a background of a few tenths of a ppbv, with occasional… 1. 2025[Viscardy et al.: unreported diffusion experiments give a gas-transport coefficient that makes small leaks plausible.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D7EXPMA1QTG/questioning-the-reliability-of-methane-detections-on-mars-by)For: The rover's methane readings are an instrumental artefact, chiefly methane leaking from the foreoptics… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWQM6TWB/is-there-methane-in-the-air-at-gale-crater%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWQM6TWB/is-there-methane-in-the-air-at-gale-crater%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWQM6TWB/is-there-methane-in-the-air-at-gale-crater%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWQM6TWB/is-there-methane-in-the-air-at-gale-crater%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWQM6TWB/is-there-methane-in-the-air-at-gale-crater%23add-source) Where it fits Mars methane puzzle **Is there methane in the air at Gale crater?** Key question · you're here [Does the background follow a seasonal cycle?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXX785WEM/does-the-background-follow-a-seasonal-cycle)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [If the rover is right, why does the orbiter see no methane?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWZE752X/if-the-rover-is-right-why-does-the-orbiter-see-no-methane)Open · 2 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]