Exploring Mars: The Fascinating Nighttime Airglow Phenomenon and Its Implications for Future Missions

2023-11-18 07:40:37
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) use of its satellites and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) sensor on a Mars exploration mission has led to an exciting and unexpected discovery. It was observed for the first time that the atmosphere of Mars glows green in the visible light spectrum during the night. This effect is known as airglow, and it is a phenomenon that also occurs on Earth, but it is slightly different from the northern lights known as the aurora borealis. On Earth, nightglow is created when two oxygen atoms react to form the ozone molecule, while aurora glow occurs when charged particles from the Sun collide with Earth’s magnetic field. It was thought for regarding 40 years that there was airglow on Mars, and was first discovered a decade ago by The European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft, which detected this phenomenon in infrared light. In 2020, this phenomenon was also observed in visible light using TGO during the day. These new observations are interesting, especially for future missions to Mars. Airglow in the polar regions of Mars is of very high intensity, which means that simple and relatively inexpensive instruments cannot be used to study it. It is planned to continue investigating nighttime airglow on Mars as part of the TGO mission, as it will provide an excellent way to study the composition and dynamics of the upper atmosphere. The planet has between 40 and 80 kilometers of altitude. Our better understanding of the Martian atmosphere can also contribute to the design of future missions to the Red Planet, by building satellites that are able to withstand atmospheric drag or designing parachutes that help reduce loads on the surface of Mars. Frequently asked questions: What is night airglow on Mars? ?Night airglow is a phenomenon that occurs in the Martian atmosphere when two oxygen atoms react to form the ozone molecule at an altitude of regarding 31 miles (50 km) from the planet’s surface. Are there similar phenomena on Earth? Yes, similar phenomena exist on Earth such as the well-known northern lights In the name of the Northern Lights. However, nighttime airglow on Mars is slightly different from the aurora in composition and causes. What is the importance of studying airglow on Mars? Studying airglow helps understand the processes occurring in the Martian atmosphere, and provides insight for scientists in designing future missions to the planet Red, including building satellites capable of dealing with different weather conditions and designing parachutes that help lower payloads to the surface of Mars.
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