Mars glows green at night. This was the first time this was observed

Scientists have suspected for decades that Mars is an atmospheric planet. However, this was first observed only about 10 years ago. This was made possible thanks to the Mars Express probe, which discovered a phenomenon in the infrared spectrum. The ExoMars TGO orbiter then captured it in visible light during the day. Now the scientists bragged A new view of the glow captured at night.

The European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter spacecraft captured the green glow of Mars in visible light at night. The first time the view was captured in this way. What causes this phenomenon?

The aforementioned Martian glow is somewhat similar to the aurora borealis that occur on Earth. The effect is created when charged solar particles collide with the Earth’s magnetic field. But on the Red Planet, the reason for this phenomenon is different. Scientists explain that the reason for this Two oxygen atoms combine to form a molecule. The process occurs on Altitude is about 50 km From the surface the side effect is a green glow.

“These new observations are unexpected and interesting for future missions to the Red Planet. The intensity of the nightglow in the polar regions is so great that simple and relatively inexpensive instruments in Mars orbit can map and monitor atmospheric flows.” – ULiège planetary scientist Jean-Claude Girard comments in a statement to the European Space Agency

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter will be used for further Mars exploration. We know that scientists want to use the ship for… Study of the composition and dynamics of the upper atmosphere The Red Planet is located 40 to 80 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. This is because the area is not accessible to satellites.

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and Roscosmos. The ship delivered the Schiaparelli lander to Mars in 2016, but it crashed during landing. The probe then began its descent into lower Martian orbits. Its purpose is, among other things, to better understand the composition of the Red Planet’s atmosphere, including its methane content.