Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
NASA recently shared an animated GIF on Instagram, showcasing auroras on Mars' nightside, delighting space enthusiasts with this rare phenomenon.
The auroras were detected by the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument aboard NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) orbiter.
The purple colour in the video represents auroras, with brighter purple indicating more intense auroral activity. The sequence pauses at the end as the instrument was overwhelmed by a wave of energetic particles.
MAVEN captured this display of auroras between May 14 and May 20 this year, showing a stellar array of purple-coloured lights on the red planet.
Unlike Earth, which is protected by a robust magnetic field limiting auroras to polar regions, Mars lacks such a magnetic field. This results in auroras that can engulf the entire planet when charged particles hit its atmosphere.
The space agency explained that without a magnetic field, Mars is exposed to energetic particles from solar storms, causing global auroras, unlike the localized auroras on Earth.
The post, shared a few days ago, has garnered over 261,000 likes and numerous comments, with users expressing amazement and curiosity about the phenomenon.
Reactions include awe at the beauty of the auroras and inquiries about future plans to capture auroras from the Martian surface, possibly during a human mission.
Some users noted the difference in colour, with Martian auroras appearing purple, unlike the commonly green auroras seen on Earth, highlighting the unique nature of this Martian spectacle.