According to the Space magazine, astronomers employed NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft to capture new images of the “Red Planet”. The spacecraft is equipped with an ultraviolet spectrograph (IUVS) capable of measuring wavelengths within the range of 110-340 nm. This falls outside the visible spectrum detectable by the naked eye.
The purple regions in the image represent ozone in Mars’ atmosphere, while the white and blue areas correspond to clouds or fog. In the new images, the planet’s surface appears brown or greenish-blue.
“By observing the planet in the ultraviolet wavelengths, scientists can gain a clearer understanding of Mars’ atmosphere and study surface features more closely,” stated a NASA representative on June 23rd. The photos shared by NASA on June 22nd were taken when Mars was near its two opposite points in its orbit around the Sun. Similar to Earth, Mars rotates on a tilted axis, resulting in four distinct seasons.
.jpg)
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft captures an image of Mars using ultraviolet light. Image: NASA.
However, Mars’ seasons are longer than those on Earth due to its year being approximately twice as long as ours.
The first image, captured in July 2022, displays Argyre Basin, one of Mars’ deepest volcanic craters, enveloped in clouds. Warmer temperatures during its summer cause the polar ice caps in the southern hemisphere to contract, releasing carbon dioxide and thickening the atmosphere.
“Studying the atmosphere aids scientists in understanding climate formation, liquid water, and the potential for life on Mars,” added the NASA representative.
Meanwhile, the second image, taken in January as the northern hemisphere of the “Red Planet” passed its farthest point in orbit around the Sun, depicts numerous white clouds in the northern polar region. Ozone accumulation can also be observed through these images.
However, the increase in water vapor during spring on Mars will disrupt this ozone layer in the northern hemisphere.