NASA Rover Discovers Stunning Aurora on Mars Visible to the Naked Eye!

NASA’s Perseverance rover has made an exciting discovery: the first visible aurora on Mars! This green aurora appeared after a solar storm last year and could soon be a treat for future astronauts on the red planet.

Scientists from Europe and the U.S. were ready for this event, having received a three-day warning thanks to advanced forecasting. Unlike previous auroras seen only in ultraviolet light, this one was visible to the naked eye. It was triggered by a solar flare in March 2024, followed by a massive release of plasma (a coronal mass ejection) from the sun, which traveled toward Mars.

Elise Wright Knutsen from the University of Oslo shared insights on this groundbreaking find. Her research, published in Science Advances, revealed that while dust dimmed the brightness of this aurora, conditions could improve. In the future, more intense solar activity might create events bright enough for astronauts to see clearly.

What makes this discovery even more special is that it’s the first time an aurora has been noted on a planet’s surface outside Earth. Past observations were made from orbit, which means we’re now learning much more about Martian space weather.

Perseverance, which landed in 2021 in Mars’ Jezero Crater, is busy searching for signs of ancient life. This area, once a vibrant lake and river delta, holds promise in the quest to find evidence of past microbial existence.

Recent data from the American Meteor Society shows an uptick in interest in celestial events like auroras, with many amateur astronomers sharing their findings online. This enthusiasm mirrors the excitement surrounding Perseverance’s discoveries—showing how space exploration continues to inspire people.

For more about this topic, check out the original report by NASA and other reputable space news sources.

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Astronomy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, AP Top News, Science, Elise Wright Knutsen, Planets, Aerospace technology, Space exploration