NASA’s Perseverance rover has made an exciting discovery: the first aurora on Mars visible to the human eye. This is great news for future astronauts who could enjoy the enchanting view on the red planet.
Scientists from the U.S. and Europe reported that this green aurora was caused by a solar storm last year. They had noticed the storm three days in advance, allowing them to prepare the rover’s cameras to capture the moment.
While previous auroras on Mars were only visible in ultraviolet light, this aurora appeared in what we can see with our own eyes. It formed after a solar flare in March 2024, which sent a burst of solar plasma toward Mars.
This remarkable finding means that we can now predict the occurrence of auroras, similar to the northern and southern lights here on Earth. Such predictions will help scientists better understand space weather, according to research published in the journal Science Advances.
The researchers mentioned that although this aurora was dim due to dust, we might see brighter events in the future, especially under clearer conditions. If so, future astronauts could witness these heavenly displays firsthand.
Notably, this marks the first time an aurora has been reported from the surface of a planet other than Earth, as previous sightings were made from orbit.
Perseverance, which was launched in 2020, has been exploring Mars’ Jezero Crater since 2021. This region, once thought to be a flowing lake and river delta, may hold clues about ancient life on Mars. The rover continues to collect dust and rock samples for future return to Earth.
