Scientists have observed a green glow in Mars’ atmosphere for the first time. The glow was detected by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). The glow has the same characteristics as the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.
The Martian sky’s normal daytime color can vary from a pinkish-red to a yellow-brown “butterscotch” color. However, in the vicinity of the setting or rising sun it is blue. This is the exact opposite of the situation on Earth.
When Mars and Earth are close to each other, Mars appears very bright in our sky. It is also easier to see with telescopes or the naked eye
The green glow on Mars is caused by sunlight interacting with oxygen atoms. The oxygen atoms are raised to a higher energy level and then fall back to their resting state, producing a green emission.
The green glow is different from Earth’s. Mars’ green glow is mainly produced by carbon dioxide breaking up into carbon monoxide and oxygen. Carbon dioxide makes up 95% of Mars’ atmosphere.
The green glow is also known as airglow. It can occur in the day or night, depending on the time.
Mars doesn’t create its own light. Instead, we see sunlight reflecting off the planet’s surface. The surface of Mars is covered in rusty red dust and rocks. The dust is blown into the planet’s thin atmosphere by winds.
Planets flicker because of atmospheric effects. The atmosphere distorts light, which makes some heavenly bodies appear to flicker and shimmer. This phenomenon is called “astronomical scintillation”.
Some other reasons for Martian flashes include:
- Cosmic-ray hits
- Sunlight glinting from rock surfaces
- Sunlight reflecting from water crystals in the martian atmosphere
Mars is not visible every night.It’s only close enough for exceptional viewing once or twice every 15 or 17 years. The best time to view Mars is when it reaches its highest point in the night sky, which occurs around midnight.
Mars is one of the five brightest planets that can be seen with the naked eye. The other four are Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. Mars is better viewed with the naked eye, as it is rather small and disappointing when viewed through a telescope
Mars is easy to spot in the night sky because it looks like a bright red point of light. It’s also the brightest object in the sky aside from the moon and Jupiter.
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and has a rusty red appearance. The reddish color of its surface is due to finely grained iron(III) oxide dust in the soil. This gives it the nickname “the Red Planet”.
To identify Mars, you can look:
- Low in the morning sky
- West-North-West direction at an altitude of 7° above the horizon
- South for the Moon
Mars is one of Earth’s two closest planetary neighbors (Venus is the other).
Universe discoveries 