Scientists showed pictures of Mars in ultraviolet light. PHOTO
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Scientists from NASA published pictures of Mars in ultraviolet light. They show the changing seasons on the red planet, reports Space.com. The first pictures were taken in July 2022, during the summer season of the southern hemisphere. At this time, the planet is closest to the sun. Repeated pictures were taken in January 2023, when the planet was at the farthest point of its orbit around the Sun. Photo: NASA The photos were taken using the MAVEN Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph. It measures wavelengths from 110 to 340 nanometers beyond the visible spectrum. The purple areas in the photos represent ozone in the Martian atmosphere, and the white and blue areas represent clouds or haze in the planet’s sky. In the new images, the surface of the planet appears brownish-brown or green. “Thus, scientists can get an idea of the atmosphere of Mars and the amazing features of the surface,” NASA assures. Mars, like Earth, has a tilted axis, due to which the seasons change on the planet. However, a year on the Red Planet lasts twice as long as on Earth. The southern hemisphere of the Red Planet is more inclined towards the Sun. Because of this, the temperatures are much higher in the summer. This causes turbulence, stronger winds and stronger dust storms. In summer, due to high temperatures, the ice and snow caps at the South Pole also melt. This releases carbon dioxide and causes the atmosphere to thicken. Studying these systems will provide a better look at how the Red Planet has evolved over time. “Understanding the loss of the atmosphere gives scientists insight into the history of Mars’ atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and the habitability of the planet,” NASA officials said in a statement. Read also: Water was found on a comet between Jupiter and Mars
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