Aurora Lights Illuminate Mars with Green Glow

Quick Summary

• NASA’s Perseverance rover captured visible-light auroras on Mars for the first time in March 2024 during a solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME).
• Scientists presented additional images of Martian auroras at the Europlanet Science Congress-Division of Planetary Science Joint Meeting in Helsinki, Finland.
• The green glow of Martian auroras is caused by charged particles colliding with oxygen atoms high above Mars, observed as diffuse aurorae as Mars lacks a magnetic field.
• Predicting auroras on Mars involves planning observations three days after a CME event, using tools like Perseverance’s SuperCam and MastCam cameras.
• Between 2023-2024,scientists recorded two successful detections out of eight attempts to observe Martian auroras.
• Researchers fine-tuned predictions by targeting more intense CMEs but highlighted challenges such as lack of adjustment to observation timing on Mars versus Earth.

Relevant Image:
!Martian Aurora Captured by NASA’s Perseverance Rover

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The finding and prediction methodology for Martian visible-light auroras represent meaningful advancements in space science. For india, which has ambitious aspirations in planetary exploration through missions like Chandrayaan and the upcoming Gaganyaan project, insights from such studies provide valuable guidance toward developing instruments capable of monitoring extraterrestrial atmospheric phenomena. The research underscores how atmospheric dynamics can impact astronauts’ safety-a critical factor for future human missions to planets. Additionally, this achievement highlights international cooperation enabling rapid scientific breakthroughs that could benefit emerging space programs globally. India’s own efforts may leverage findings like these to enhance its scientific contributions within international collaborations or explore similar phenomena around bodies like Venus or beyond.