NASA, the US space agency, regularly shares amazing images from the universe and amazes space lovers. NASA’s social media program is a treasure trove for those who enjoy viewing educational videos and fun images of Earth and the universe. Now, in its latest post, the space agency has delighted its Instagram followers with an animated GIF showing the night aura on Mars. This rare phenomenon was captured by the Extraterrestrial Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument on NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatility Evolution) orbiter.
NASA says “The purple color in this video shows the aura at night on Mars using the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument on NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Variable Evolution) orbiter. The brighter the purple, the more aura. This is considered an energetic wave. Solar storms on Mars are coming, and eventually when the most energetic wave of particles arrives and obliterates the device with noise, the sequence stops”.
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NASA’s MAVEN captured a stunning display of purple light on the red planet between May 14 and May 20 this year. In a statement, the space agency explained that the appearance of this aura is different from that of our planet.
“Our home planet is protected from charged particles by its magnetic field, which usually limits the aura to the region near the poles. (The peak of the sun is the reason for the aura visible as far south as Alabama.) Mars has lost its internally generated magnetic field. In the past, not there is protection from strong particles, charged particles on Mars “When it hits the atmosphere, it causes an aura that surrounds the entire planet.”
NASA shared the post a few days later, and it has received more than 261,000 likes and several reactions. “Wow! That’s amazing,” said one user. Another said: “Wow, this is amazing.”
“That’s great! Are there any plans from NASA to photograph the aurora? Or should we wait for a future human mission?” third commented. user Apne: “but the aurora is mostly green? It looks completely different”.
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