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Detection of visible-wavelength aurora on Mars
Elise W Knutsen1, Timothy H McConnochie2, Mark Lemmon2
1University of Oslo, CENSSS, Oslo, Norway.
Science Advances
|May 14, 2025
Summary
Scientists discovered green visible aurora on Mars using the Perseverance rover. This finding, observed after a coronal mass ejection, suggests auroral forecasting is possible for future astronauts.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Atmospheric Physics
- Space Weather
Background:
- Mars lacks a global magnetic field and has a tenuous atmosphere.
- Auroras on Mars have only been observed from orbit in ultraviolet wavelengths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first detection of visible-wavelength aurora on Mars.
- To investigate the cause of Martian auroral emissions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the SuperCam and Mastcam-Z instruments on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.
- Scheduled observations based on near-real-time simulations of a Mars-directed coronal mass ejection (CME).
Main Results:
- Detected green aurora at 557.7 nanometers, originating from atomic oxygen.
- Observed the emission 3 days after a CME event, indicating particle acceleration by a shock front.
Conclusions:
- This is the first reported detection of aurora from a planetary surface other than Earth.
- Visible aurora has never been observed on Mars before.
- Auroral forecasting on Mars is feasible, with potential visibility for future astronauts.
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