Global Aurora at Mars
Explanation:
A strong solar event last month triggered
intense
global aurora at Mars.
Before (left) and during (right) the solar storm,
these projections show the sudden increase in ultraviolet emission
from martian aurora, more than 25 times brighter
than auroral emission previously detected by the
orbiting MAVEN spacecraft.
With a sunlit crescent toward the right, data from MAVEN's
ultraviolet imaging spectrograph is shown in purple hues
on the night side of Mars globes
simulated to match the observation dates and times.
On Mars, solar storms can result in planet-wide aurora because,
unlike Earth,
the Red Planet isn't protected by a strong
global
magnetic field
that can funnel energetic charged particles toward the poles.
For all those
on the planet's surface during the solar storm,
dangerous radiation levels were double any previously measured
by the Curiosity rover.
MAVEN is studying whether Mars
lost its atmosphere
due to its lack of a global magnetic field.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
