Mars’ atmosphere is quite different from Earth’s, affecting the planet’s sunset displays. The Red Planet’s distance from the Sun and its unique atmospheric composition contribute to these differences. Noctilucent clouds, also known as twilight clouds, are responsible for vibrant red, orange, and purple hues during dawn and dusk on Earth. NASA’s Curiosity rover recently captured images of Martian noctilucent and shimmering cloud formations during a sunset.
The Curiosity rover recorded the event over 16 minutes on January 17, showcasing how Mars’ atmosphere differs from Earth’s. Martian clouds can be made of water-based ice or CO2 ice, which forms at various altitudes due to the planet’s low atmospheric pressure and high concentration of carbon dioxide (95%). This CO2 ice can create iridescent clouds.
These clouds are not a rare sight but may only appear above specific regions on Mars. Both the Curiosity and Pathfinder rovers have documented similar atmospheric events, with Perseverance rover having not captured any noctilucent clouds yet. Atmospheric scientist Mark Lemmon suggests that gravitational waves might be responsible for condensing CO2 into ice.
“Lunar gravity waves are not fully understood, and we’re still trying to determine why twilight clouds form in one place but not another,” Lemmon said in a statement from NASA. The discovery highlights the complexities of Mars’ atmosphere and the need for further research to understand its unique phenomena.
Source: https://www.popsci.com/science/mars-shimmering-clouds