Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that will revolutionize our understanding of auroras on the Red Planet. NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has successfully detected and observed stunning auroras across Mars’ surface, marking the first time this phenomenon has been witnessed from another planet.
The observation was made possible by a rare alignment of solar activity, including a massive coronal mass ejection (CME) that triggered an intense solar flare. This event created spectacular displays of light in the Martian atmosphere, which were captured by Perseverance’s SuperCam spectrometer and Mastcam-Z camera.
The team behind the discovery used advanced modeling and simulations to predict when the CME would impact Mars and create the perfect conditions for observing auroras. By coordinating with NASA’s Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office and the Community Coordinated Modeling Center, they were able to issue an alert that allowed the Perseverance rover to position itself at the optimal location to capture the event.
The observation of the aurora on Mars is significant not only because it marks a new milestone in space exploration but also because it provides insights into the Martian environment and its potential effects on future human missions. According to Dr. Elise Knutsen, lead author of the Science Advances study, this discovery “opens up new possibilities for auroral research and confirms that auroras could be visible to future astronauts on Mars’ surface.”
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/mars/nasa-observes-first-visible-light-auroras-at-mars