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Mars Express discovers aurorae on Mars

9 June 2005

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Terra Cimmeria is the area in the southern hemisphere of Mars where Mars Express has detected for the first time ever an aurora in the Red Planet. The aurora was detected at 177 degrees east and 52 degrees south. It is linked to anomalies in the crustal magnetic field, and it has a highly concentrated shape, making it unique in the Solar System.

Credits: NASA/ESA

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Mars aurora is related to crustal magnetic field

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A martian aurora has been detected by the SPICAM instrument on board Mars Express on 14 August 2004. Its emission, 30 km across and about 8 km high, corresponds to an area where the crustal magnetic field is very strong (dark red in the image).

Credits: NASA, MGS

Looking at Mars