Aurorae on Mars are a whole other affair compared to the ones we have on Earth . The Red Planet does n’t have a charismatic field , so part of the solar wind just mosh into the thin Martian atmosphere , creating an ultraviolet light show . At least that ’s what NASA’sMAVEN(Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN ) can see . And in February , it saw fireworks .

The aurorae that covered the whole planet were register by the observatory , taking position on February 3 and 4 , 7 to 10 , and 15 and 16 . The increase bodily process is due to the Sun approaching itsmaximum . During this period , the level of solar activeness addition , including coronal mass ejection ( CMEs ) . These events supply more energetic particles to the solar wind , making a bigger dab when they hit Mars .

ⓘ IFLScience is not responsible for content partake from external site .

" Mars is experiencing its greatest level of auroral activity in the past 10 years , " Nick Schneider of the University of Colorado ’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics ( LASP ) , toldSpaceweather.com . " In February alone , there were three instalment of worldwide auroras – an ' aurora hat fast one ' we ’ve never see before . "

Spaceweather.com in reality prognosticate the events by depend at CMEs released by the Sun and matching them with the military position of Mars . MAVEN has been around Mars for less than a decade , acquire to the Red Planet just after the superlative of the last solar Hz . This time around , it ’s follow the effects of solar activity as thing get very exciting . And what researcher learn now , will sham future missions on Mars .

“ For humankind and asset on the Martian surface , we do n’t have a solid handle on what the core is from radioactivity during solar activity , ” MAVEN Principal Investigator Shannon Curry of the University of Colorado Boulder ’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics said in astatement . “I’d actually jazz to see the ‘ big one ’ at Mars this yr — a large event that we can study to see solar radiation better before astronauts go to Mars . ”

Hopefully Curry will get her wishing and we will get more brilliant views of aurorae on Mars .