SCIENCE

NASA MAVEN snaps stunning images of Mars

By Sanjana Shankar

1

MAVEN

NASA has released two images of Mars captured by the MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission in ultraviolet wavelengths.

2

Insights

Viewing Mars in ultraviolet wavelengths helps scientists better understand what Mars's atmosphere is like and provides information about its surface.

3

Mission

The MAVEN mission is designed to explore Mars's upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and how it interacts with the Sun and solar wind.

4

Melting Martian ice cap

The image shows the southern hemisphere of Mars as it experiences summer—when the planet moves close to the Sun. The "southern polar ice cap" is depicted in white.

5

Summer on Mars

The other image shows Mars's northern hemisphere. The bright magenta region shows the atmospheric ozone on Mars and thick clouds are seen in white.

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