NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission has provided breathtaking new images of Mars in ultraviolet light, offering scientists a unique perspective on the planet's atmosphere. The MAVEN spacecraft captured these remarkable views in 2022 and 2023 using its Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS), which detects wavelengths beyond the range of human vision. To make these wavelengths visible, the images are rendered with varying brightness levels of three ultraviolet ranges, represented as red, green, and blue.
The first image, taken in July 2022 during the Martian southern hemisphere's summer, shows the planet when it's closest to the sun. Atmospheric ozone appears purple, clouds appear white or blue, and the surface takes on a tan or green hue depending on the image optimization.
The second image, captured in January 2023 when Mars was farthest from the sun, reveals a planet speckled with white clouds and magenta ozone. Argyre Basin, one of Mars’ deepest craters, is visible with a pale pink haze, and the Valles Marineris canyons are also prominent features.
By studying Mars in ultraviolet wavelengths, scientists can gain valuable insights into the composition and dynamics of its atmosphere. MAVEN, launched in November 2013 and arriving in Mars' orbit in September 2014, continues to provide crucial data for understanding the Red Planet.
