In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA’s Perseverance rover has detected the first visible aurora on the surface of Mars — a faint green glow caused by a solar storm. This phenomenon was predicted long ago but had never been seen from the ground before — until now.
"We’ve always expected atmospheric emissions, but this is the first time we've seen one from the Martian ground," — Dr. Shannon Curry, planetary physicist, University of California, Berkeley.
🌌 Why This Discovery Matters
Previously, auroras on Mars were only observed from orbit and only in the ultraviolet spectrum. The detection of a visible green aurora confirms theories about atmospheric oxygen reacting to solar activity. It’s a leap forward in understanding Martian weather, atmosphere, and potential for habitability.
💡 How It Happened
Perseverance’s Mastcam-Z captured images of the green glow, which appeared as atomic oxygen in the thin Martian atmosphere interacted with particles from a recent coronal mass ejection (CME).
"This is a solar-driven phenomenon, not magnetic — which makes it even more interesting for a planet like Mars," — NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
💵 How Much Does It Cost?
While the aurora itself has no cost, the broader mission of Perseverance is valued at over $2.7 billion USD. Every discovery like this enhances the mission’s scientific value and justifies future investments in planetary exploration.
🧠 Expert Opinions
- Dr. Sylvain Piqueux (NASA JPL): “It’s a game-changer. Visual auroras open up a new field of Martian atmospheric diagnostics.”
- Prof. Anjali Tripathi (Harvard): “We may need to re-evaluate how we prepare for human missions in terms of solar weather exposure.”
📚 References
📣 Final Thought
This shimmering green glow is not just beautiful — it’s a milestone in Martian exploration. As scientists continue to uncover the secrets of Mars, we move closer to understanding — and potentially visiting — the Red Planet.
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