Martian Auroras Observed: Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections Reach Mars, NASA Reveals

(Photo : Pixabay / Aynur_zakirov)

According to NASA, various solar flares and coronal mass ejections have arrived on Mars.

This has offered researchers the opportunity to view Martian auroras.

Solar Maximum

Unique and intense space weather has been observed, thanks to the Sun's solar maximum. This period is marked by peak activity in the Sun during its 11-year cycle. This was according to Bryan Brasher, the project manager of the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

During this period, the Sun releases CMEs (coronal mass ejections) more frequently. Such CMEs are huge expulsions of magnetized plasma from the Sun's corona. They lead to a geomagnetic storm and solar flare uptick and may also trigger great auroras.

Last May, millions of individuals all over the US got to witness spectacular northern lights that covered the skies for around two weeks due to a strong solar storm.

ALSO READ: Solar Maximum Could Help Find Answer as to Why Sun Shined Brighter in Gamma Rays

Solar Flares, CMEs at Mars

In the last months, NASA's own Martian orbiters and rovers have offered scientists and researchers opportunities to view great solar activity. The agency noted that the solar flare of May 20 was quite strong.

NASA shared that the flare expelled gamma rays and X-rays towards Mars, with the following CME launching particles that are charged.

Analysts from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center's Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office monitored space weather. The office also relayed a warning regarding the possibility of charged particles.

The space agency noted that if astronauts stood beside the Curiosity rover back then, they would have experienced a dose of radiation of up to 8,100 micrograys, which is equivalent to up to 30 chest X-rays.

Though this level is not deadly, it was the strongest surge that the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) of the Curiosity rover was able to measure since it reached the Red Planet more than a decade ago.

Moreover, a NASA orbiter that offers data regarding the atmosphere of Mars was also able to capture another impact of this solar activity. The MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter offered views of ethereal auroras across the Red Planet.

Such auroras have a reportedly different way of occurring compared to how they happen on Earth.

While a magnetic field of charged particles shield the Earth, this is something that Mars does not have anymore. Because of this, the Red Planet is not protected from these energetic particles.

According to NASA, when such particles reach the Martian atmosphere, it leads to auroras that cover the whole planet.

Christina Lee, the space weather lead of MAVEN, shared that this was the biggest event of solar energetic particles that the orbiter was ever able to witness.

Solar activity has also persisted this month. In fact, the SWPC was able to detect a strong storm last Saturday. This was reportedly stronger than the strongest S-storm that was observed since September 2017.

The SWPC noted that solar radiation storms of such a magnitude may lead to a loss or degradation of high-frequency communications in polar areas.