Scientists at the University of Liège have captured the first sight of Mars’ green glow.
Did you know Mars emits a glow in the visible range during the night? It was a phenomenon never before seen until now. The discovery by the University of Liège’s scientists offers new insights into the dynamics of the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere and its seasonal variations.
Mars’ Green Glow
The Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) satellite, a part of the European Space Agency’s Mars program, played a pivotal role in this discovery. Equipped with the UVIS-NOMAD instrument, the TGO was initially purposed for ultraviolet observations. However, scientists, including Jean-Claude Gérard from the University of Liège, redirected the instrument to capture images of Mars’ limb, leading to this unprecedented discovery.
During night observations, the researchers detected emissions between 40 and 70 km in altitude. These emissions result from oxygen atoms, created in the Martian summer atmosphere and carried to winter latitudes by winds. “As these atoms recombine with CO2, they emit a visible glow,” explains Lauriane Soret, an LPAP researcher. This glow is primarily concentrated in the Martian poles, where the convergence of oxygen atoms occurs most significantly.
The study, encompassing three years of Martian atmospheric data, has revealed that this visible glow fluctuates with the Martian seasons. With each half of the Martian year, lasting 687 Earth days, the glow switches from one hemisphere to the other. This rhythmic change offers scientists a new way to track atmospheric changes on Mars.
A Bright Future for Martian Research
The implications of this research extend far beyond the academic realm. “The intensity of this night glow could guide future astronauts from orbit or on the Martian ground,” says Gérard. The potential for simple instruments to monitor atmospheric flows could significantly enhance future Martian missions and research.
The observations made by the TGO satellite provide a unique opportunity to delve into the dynamics of the Martian upper atmosphere. By analyzing these glows, scientists like Benoit Hubert from LPAP suggest that remote sensing of these emissions can serve as an excellent tool for probing the composition and movements within Mars’ elusive atmospheric layer.
In summary, this first-time observation of Mars’ night glow in the visible spectrum opens up a new frontier in Martian exploration. It not only helps us understand the intricate atmospheric dynamics of our neighboring planet but also holds promise for supporting future explorations and potentially aiding human presence on Mars.
The Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) satellite, a part of the European Space Agency’s Mars program, played a pivotal role in this discovery. Equipped with the UVIS-NOMAD instrument, the TGO was initially purposed for ultraviolet observations. However, scientists, including Jean-Claude Gérard from the University of Liège, redirected the instrument to capture images of Mars’ limb, leading to this unprecedented discovery.
The Glow of Martian Nights
During night observations, the researchers detected emissions between 40 and 70 km in altitude. These emissions result from oxygen atoms, created in the Martian summer atmosphere and carried to winter latitudes by winds. “As these atoms recombine with CO2, they emit a visible glow,” explains Lauriane Soret, an LPAP researcher. This glow is primarily concentrated in the Martian poles, where the convergence of oxygen atoms occurs most significantly.
The study, encompassing three years of Martian atmospheric data, has revealed that this visible glow fluctuates with the Martian seasons. With each half of the Martian year, lasting 687 Earth days, the glow switches from one hemisphere to the other. This rhythmic change offers scientists a new way to track atmospheric changes on Mars.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the academic realm. “The intensity of this night glow could guide future astronauts from orbit or on the Martian ground,” says Gérard. The potential for simple instruments to monitor atmospheric flows could significantly enhance future Martian missions and research.
Understanding Mars’ Green Glow and Atmosphere Dynamics
The observations made by the TGO satellite provide a unique opportunity to delve into the dynamics of the Martian upper atmosphere. By analyzing these glows, scientists like Benoit Hubert from LPAP suggest that remote sensing of these emissions can serve as an excellent tool for probing the composition and movements within Mars’ elusive atmospheric layer.
In summary, this first-time observation of Mars’ night glow in the visible spectrum opens up a new frontier in Martian exploration. It not only helps us understand the intricate atmospheric dynamics of our neighboring planet but also holds promise for supporting future explorations and potentially aiding human presence on Mars.
Source: “Glow in the visible range detected for the first time in the Martian night” — ScienceaDaily