A new view of Mars, courtesy of the MAVEN spacecraft orbiting the red planet, is revealing ozone levels in the atmosphere, giant clouds and odd wind patterns.
The MAVEN — which stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission — is beginning its third year of studies about how Mars lost most of its atmosphere. As the spacecraft reaches the most distant part of its orbit, approximately 3,900 miles from Mars, its global view of the planet is giving scientists new insights at global wind circulation, ozone distribution and cloud formation, Seeker reported.
Nightside images show ultraviolet "nightglow" emission from nitric oxide, NASA said in a release. In nightglow, the sky faintly shines, even in the complete absence of external light. Mars' nightside atmosphere emits light in the ultraviolet due to chemical reactions that begin on Mars' dayside. UV light from the sun breaks down molecules of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and the resulting atoms are carried around the planet by high-altitude wind patterns that encircle the planet.
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