NASA rover observes aurora on Mars in visible light for the first time

 NASA has announced a remarkable discovery by the Curiosity rover on Mars: the unprecedented detection of an aurora visible to the naked eye. This marks the first time a Martian aurora has been observed in visible light from the planet’s surface, offering a fresh look at Mars’ atmospheric and magnetic behavior.

A unique Martian aurora

 Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with a planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. On Earth, they’re seen near the poles and appear as colorful lights. Until now, Martian auroras had only been observed in ultraviolet wavelengths—unseen by the human eye.

 This time, however, the aurora was captured in visible light using the Curiosity rover's Mastcam and other atmospheric instruments, surprising scientists around the world.

How it was detected

 The event occurred during a period of heightened solar activity. Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a global magnetic field, which allows solar particles to penetrate directly into its atmosphere, sparking auroras in various regions.

 Scientists described a faint green glow near the Martian horizon during the local night, captured over several hours. The consistency of the images confirmed that it was not an optical illusion or instrument error.

Differences from Earth’s auroras

 Unlike Earth’s auroras, which concentrate near the poles due to its global magnetic field, Martian auroras are scattered and irregular. Mars only has remnant magnetic fields in its crust, making these auroras less predictable.

 The visible light likely came from the interaction between solar particles and carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere—different from Earth’s auroras, which involve oxygen and nitrogen.

Impact on Mars exploration

 This discovery has significant implications for planetary science and future human missions to Mars. Studying auroras helps scientists understand how solar radiation affects the Martian atmosphere and magnetic environment.

 Auroras can also act as indicators of solar activity and radiation risks—critical information for future crewed missions. Understanding where and how these auroras form helps engineers plan safer missions.

Technology behind the discovery

 The Mastcam system on Curiosity played a key role, using its high-sensitivity sensors for low-light conditions. NASA also used data from the REMS (Rover Environmental Monitoring Station) to track atmospheric changes during the event.

 Orbital spacecraft like MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) provided complementary observations in ultraviolet wavelengths, validating the surface-based detection.

International collaboration

 Researchers from Europe and Canada also contributed to the analysis. The Institute of Space Sciences in Spain helped examine the aurora’s spectral data, while the Canadian Space Agency supported atmospheric modeling.

 This highlights the global nature of planetary science and how data from a single rover can unite scientists worldwide.

What’s next

 NASA plans to expand sky monitoring with Curiosity and Perseverance, which is being programmed to conduct similar low-light observations.

 Future missions like Mars Sample Return may collect atmospheric samples, enabling lab-based analysis of the light-emitting compounds involved in these auroras.

Scientific response

 The visible aurora caused excitement across the astronomy community. Jim Green, NASA’s former chief scientist, said: “Seeing a Martian aurora as we see them on Earth opens a whole new window on a mysterious planet.”

 Peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Astronomy and Science are preparing in-depth publications on the discovery.

Conclusion
 The first visible aurora captured on Mars by the Curiosity rover is a milestone in planetary exploration. It not only showcases our growing ability to detect complex phenomena on other worlds but also enhances our understanding of Martian atmospheric behavior—crucial for planning future human exploration.

Source: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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