NASA revealed this original article on June 22, 2023. Edits by EarthSky.
Mars in ultraviolet
NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission has launched beautiful new views of Mars. MAVEN acquired these ultraviolet photographs at totally different factors alongside the purple planet’s orbit across the sun. By viewing the planet in ultraviolet wavelengths, scientists can acquire perception into the Martian ambiance and look at floor options in exceptional methods. MAVEN’s Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument obtained these international views of Mars in 2022 and 2023, when the planet was close to reverse ends of its elliptical orbit.
The IUVS instrument measures wavelengths between 110 and 340 nanometers, exterior the seen spectrum. Scientists needed to make these wavelengths seen to the human eye and simpler to interpret. Due to this fact, they rendered the photographs with the various brightness ranges of three ultraviolet wavelength ranges represented as purple, inexperienced, and blue. On this colour scheme, atmospheric ozone seems purple, whereas clouds and hazes seem white or blue. The floor can seem tan or inexperienced, relying on how the photographs have been optimized to extend distinction and present element.
MAVEN took the primary picture (above) in July 2022. This was through the southern hemisphere’s summer time season, which happens when Mars passes closest to the sun. The lean of the planet’s rotational axis causes the seasons on Mars. It’s the identical manner Earth experiences the seasons.
Argyre Basin, considered one of Mars’ deepest craters, seems at backside left crammed with atmospheric haze (depicted right here as pale pink). The deep canyons of Valles Marineris seem at prime left crammed with clouds (coloured tan on this picture). The southern polar ice cap is at backside in white, shrinking from the relative heat of summer time. Southern summer time warming and dust storms drive water vapor to very excessive altitudes, explaining MAVEN’s discovery of enhanced hydrogen loss from Mars at the moment of yr.
One other view of the purple planet in new colours

The second picture is of Mars’ northern hemisphere. MAVEN acquired this picture in January 2023, after Mars had handed the farthest level in its orbit from the sun. The quickly altering seasons within the north polar area trigger an abundance of white clouds. The deep canyons of Valles Marineris are in tan at decrease left, together with many craters. Ozone, which seems magenta on this UV view, has constructed up through the northern winter’s chilly polar nights. Then, in northern spring, chemical reactions with water vapor destroy the ozone. Water vapor is restricted to low altitudes of the ambiance at the moment of yr.
MAVEN launched in November 2013 and entered Mars’ orbit in September 2014. The mission’s purpose is to discover the planet’s higher ambiance, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind. Scientists wish to be taught extra concerning the lack of the Martian ambiance to space. Understanding atmospheric loss offers scientists perception into the historical past of Mars’ ambiance and local weather, liquid water and planetary habitability. The MAVEN crew is making ready to have a good time the spacecraft’s tenth yr at Mars in September 2024.
Backside line: The MAVEN spacecraft acquired two new photographs of Mars in ultraviolet. These new views assist us get a unique perspective on the planet subsequent door.
Read more: Mars in 2023: Fading dramatically in June