NASA’s Curiosity rover has captured stunning images of colorful clouds in the Martian sky, earning them the nickname “mother-of-pearl” due to their iridescent hue. The clouds, known as noctilucent or twilight clouds, are made up of frozen carbon dioxide and are rare on Mars.
According to NASA, the Curiosity rover’s Mastcam took photos of the clouds over 16 minutes, capturing their vibrant colors when the setting Sun scattered light. These clouds are formed at an altitude of 37-50 miles above the planet’s surface and contain a significant amount of frozen carbon dioxide, despite Mars’ atmosphere being mostly carbon dioxide.
Researchers believe that certain regions on Mars may be more prone to forming these clouds due to gravity waves, which can cool the atmosphere. However, the exact mechanism behind their formation is still not fully understood.
The Curiosity rover has been able to predict when and where these clouds will appear, thanks to advancements in cloud observation research. The rover recently visited a unique geological feature called “boxwork,” which appears as giant spiderwebs from space, and investigated a 67-foot wide impact crater nicknamed “Rustic Canyon.”
These new findings demonstrate the rover’s continued exploration of Mars’ surface and its ability to uncover hidden secrets about the planet’s atmosphere and geology.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-rover-images-mother-of-pearl-clouds-mars