Rainbow colored sunset…Image of the ‘Red Planet’ sent by NASA Curiosity
The Mars rover ‘Curiosity’ has captured the clearest sunlight ever seen on the surface of Mars.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the 7th (local time), Curiosity captured a scene where the sun’s rays fell through the clouds over the horizon at sunset on the 2nd of last month. The rover was observing clouds for a climate probe on Mars.
According to NASA, most of the Martian clouds lie within 60 km of the earth and contain ‘water ice’. However, the clouds in the recent pictures taken by Curiosity are formed especially at higher altitudes, so the temperature is low, and the composition of the clouds is estimated to be carbon dioxide ice or dry ice.
These clouds help scientists understand the weather on Mars. By noting when and where clouds form, various information such as the composition, temperature, and winds of the Martian atmosphere can be obtained.
In addition, Curiosity captured a plume-like cloud on January 27th. In the picture, the sunlight was shining on the clouds, creating a rainbow-like colour.
Meanwhile, the ‘Curiosity’ rover, which has been active on Mars since 2012, celebrated 10 years since landing in August last year. Originally, NASA expected Curiosity to operate for about two years, but the rover has far exceeded this expected lifespan and is still operational.
Curiosity’s mission is to find traces of ancient life beyond Earth. In fact, the rover managed to discover traces of water flowing on Mars long ago and evidence of methane gas and organic compounds that are necessary for life to exist.
Reporter Yang Min-ha (mh.yang@etnews.com)
