The Hope Probe explores a new type of intermittent proton aurora on Mars

  • Comparison of normal and intermittent proton aurora.

    From the source

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The Emirates Mars Exploration Project (Hope Probe) has announced that it has made first-of-its-kind observations of a new type of proton auroras around Mars.

Intermittent proton auroras that occur in changing locations may provide new understanding about unexpected changes in the behavior of the Martian atmosphere.

The Hope Probe team collaborated with NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) project to study and characterize the observations.

The study of the world's unprecedented "Hope Probe" images of intermittent protein auroras, together with the observations of the "MAVEN" of Mars plasma at the same time, contributes to opening new horizons in understanding the mysterious causes of the auroras on Mars.

Hessa Al Matrooshi, scientific team leader for the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, said: “The discovery of the intermittent proton auroras enriches the probe’s record of unique achievements, and also raises questions about our current hypotheses about how protons auroras formed on the bright side of the planet.

The Hope probe has so far revealed many unexpected phenomena that enhance our understanding of the dynamics of the Martian atmosphere and magnetosphere, and these new scientific observations, along with the data of the MAVEN probe, enhance the progress of scientific research in this field.”

The new type of intermittent proton auroras is formed as a result of the interaction of the solar wind directly with the upper atmosphere of the bright side of Mars, slowing its speed and emitting ultraviolet radiation.

The proton auroras were detected through snapshots of the luminous disk of Mars through the ultraviolet spectrometer, which monitors the upper atmosphere and the outer atmosphere of Mars, to detect any changes in the composition of the atmosphere and the leakage of its gases into space.

The aurora appears as luminous areas scattered across the bright side of the planet with two wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation associated with the hydrogen atom;

Lehmann beta 102.6 nm and Lehmann alpha 121.6 nm.

Under normal conditions, the luminous side appears uniform at these two wavelengths, as hydrogen atoms contribute to the planet's brightness due to the scattering of sunlight.

Auroras occur when small areas of the planet become brighter at these wavelengths, indicating that energy is concentrated in specific regions of the atmosphere.

«Mohammed bin Rashid Space Agency»

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center published a set of pictures of the "Southern Ring Nebula", which is a nebula arising from the remains of a star similar to the sun (type white dwarf), and it consists of gas and dust, and is about 2500 light-years away from planet Earth, with a diameter of about 0.5 years Photocell.

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