NASA’s Perseverance rover has captured the first visible-light image of a Martian aurora, providing scientists with a new window into the planet’s interactions with the Sun. The image, taken during a solar storm in March 2024, shows a faint greenish tint to the Martian sky.
According to postdoctoral researcher Elise Wright Knutsen, who led the research team, the discovery is significant because it reveals how charged particles from the Sun interact with Mars’ weakened magnetic field. This interaction generates an aurora that can be detected using cameras, rather than relying solely on ultraviolet wavelengths as previous orbiting spacecraft had.
Knutsen explains that the lack of visible-light observations has several causes, including limited instrument design and focus on geology over astronomy. However, improved forecasting abilities and precise timing allowed the team to successfully capture the aurora image.
The discovery will enable scientists to investigate how Martian aurorae vary in time and space, providing insights into particle transport and magnetosphere dynamics. The visible-light instruments used in this experiment are simpler and cheaper than UV ones, making it a valuable contribution to our understanding of Mars’ interactions with the Sun.
The team’s findings were published in Science Advances, highlighting the potential for future research on Martian aurorae and their connection to solar activity.
Source: https://physicsworld.com/a/this-is-what-an-aurora-looks-like-on-mars