The Mars rover Perseverance has made history by capturing the first visible-light image of an aurora on another planet. The image, taken during a solar storm on March 18, 2024, shows a faint greenish tinge in the Martian sky. Scientists believe that similar aurorae would be visible to future human explorers on Mars.
Forecast for 6 months: Expect more frequent and detailed observations of Martian aurorae as scientists continue to refine their forecasting abilities and improve the instruments on Mars rovers.
Forecast for 1 year: The success of this mission will pave the way for future Mars missions to study the Martian magnetosphere and aurorae in greater detail, potentially leading to a better understanding of the planet’s habitability.
Forecast for 5 years: As the technology improves, we can expect to see more sophisticated instruments on Mars rovers, enabling scientists to study the Martian aurorae in greater detail and potentially making it possible to detect signs of life on the planet.
Forecast for 10 years: The discovery of Martian aurorae could lead to a new era of space exploration, with humans potentially establishing a presence on the planet to study the aurorae and search for signs of life.
