NASA reveals the secret of Mars turning from red to green in the evening



It may be known as the red planet to the world, but according to observations of the US Space Agency (NASA), Mars is glowing green at night, due to chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere.

This strange phenomenon was recorded by NASA's orbiting "Maven", but it is unlikely that astronauts will see it because it is visible only by ultraviolet rays, and it is not possible to see it with the naked eye.

The discovery could help create a more detailed picture of Mars' weather, helping the first inhabited voyages to the Red Planet.

The researchers explained that the first manned mission to Mars will need better predictions than what is currently available to avoid wild winds and storms that can last for weeks, according to the British newspaper "Daily Mail".

Every evening, the upper atmosphere flashes softly in ultraviolet light, as the sun sets and temperatures drop to minus 62 degrees Celsius and below.

To reach this discovery, a team of researchers mapped the atmosphere of the red planet, for the first time, using data from the Maven spacecraft.

The findings, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, shed light on the highly complex Martian air system, including how light changes with the seasons.

Lead researcher, Professor Nick Schneider, said the behavior of the Martian atmosphere is as complex and rich as that of Earth's atmosphere.

The greenish glow resembles the similar flares seen on Earth and Venus - initially observed by the European Space Agency's Mars Express mission in 2003.

The green glow, according to the study, occurs when nitrogen and oxygen atoms combine to form nitric oxide particles, causing small bursts of ultraviolet light to be released in the process.

As on Earth, glow is influenced by the seasons, for example, night glow appears to be brighter at the height of the planet's northern and southern winters.

The Source



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