#airglow

#airglow

The European Space Agency's ExoMars probe spotted the Red Planet glowing green at night.

This green glow is caused by oxygen molecules splitting apart and regrouping, creating a nightglow about 30 miles above Mars's surface.

Both Earth and Mars have airglow effects, but Mars's nightglow phenomenon had only been observed in daylight until now. [ more ]

The European Space Agency's ExoMars probe spotted the Red Planet glowing green at night.

This green glow is caused by oxygen molecules splitting apart and regrouping, creating a nightglow about 30 miles above Mars's surface.

Both Earth and Mars have airglow effects, but Mars's nightglow phenomenon had only been observed in daylight until now. [ more ]

The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter spotted a green glow in Mars' southern pole atmosphere during the long polar night.

The green glow is caused by oxygen atoms recombining high above the Martian surface, releasing energy.

The airglow on Mars is a different process than aurorae and is caused by the Sun and oxygen. [ more ]