Curiosity rover captures glowing clouds in the Martian sky
The Curiosity rover, which has been operating on Mars since 2012, captured a rare phenomenon – a layer of glowing clouds in the atmosphere of the Red Planet. The flickering is due to ice crystals scattering the sun's rays, Phys.org reports.
Previous observations have shown that clouds form very rarely in the thin dry atmosphere of Mars. They usually appear at the planet's equator during the coldest time of the year, when Mars is farthest from the Sun.
But two years ago, scientists noticed clouds that formed over the rover at an unusually early time – early winter. They took some pictures for further research.
It turned out that these clouds are very high. Most of the Martian clouds are located 60 km above the surface and are composed of water ice. But the clouds depicted by Curiosity are at higher altitudes, where it is very cold. They are likely composed of carbon dioxide or dry ice. Scientists plan to establish their exact location and composition.
“These clouds are one of the most colorful phenomena on the Red Planet. If you looked at the sky next to Curiosity, you could see their colors with the naked eye, although they would be faint, ”said Mark Lemmon of the Space Science Institute in Boulder.
Earlier it was reported that traces of droughts and floods were found on Mars. They happened when the climate of the Red Planet was very different.
