David Bridges
A rover has captured stunning images of extraordinary extraterrestrial clouds shimmering with rainbow hues as they drift across the Martian atmosphere. These captivating formations, known as noctilucent clouds, present a unique sight that offers a glimpse into the wonders of Mars.
Curiosity, one of NASA‘s advanced robotic explorers on the Red Planet, documented an incredible 16 minutes of these elusive clouds on January 17. Often referred to as twilight clouds due to their faint visibility during daylight, these clouds exhibit a beautiful iridescence as they scatter sunlight from the setting sun.
Scientists have unveiled a remarkable video showcasing the clouds, which has been accelerated nearly 480 times and loops four times for an immersive experience. The video reveals the graceful movements of these clouds, highlighted by striking red and green tones, adding to their mystique.
While similar high-altitude clouds can be observed near the edge of space on Earth, there are notable differences between Martian and terrestrial clouds. The clouds on Mars are composed of dry ice, a phenomenon absent in Earth’s atmosphere, whereas Earth’s clouds are primarily made of water ice. Due to the limited availability of water vapor at the heights needed for cloud formation, Mars presents a unique environment where these noctilucent clouds can exist, as explained by Mark Lemmon, an atmospheric scientist from the Space Science Institute in Colorado.
“In regions where conditions are right on Earth, we often see stunning noctilucent clouds,” Lemmon remarked to Mashable. “Each planet showcases its own spectacular examples of these formations.”
Astronaut snaps strange iridescent clouds at the edge of space
The captivating video showcases the noctilucent clouds gracefully drifting across the Martian sky, captured at altitudes ranging from 37 to 50 miles. This stunning view was taken by Curiosity‘s left Mastcam, as the rover continues its exploration toward the intriguing boxwork region beneath Mount Sharp.
While the visuals might seem as if they were captured from the vastness of space, they actually represent a skyward perspective from the Martian surface. The images have an intriguing incomplete appearance due to the rover’s camera having a stuck color filter wheel, which adds to their unique charm.
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Since the 19th century, astronomers have gazed up at Earth’s sky, captivated by these fascinating clouds positioned at the highest altitudes. While typical rain clouds form no more than 10 miles above the surface, noctilucent clouds made of water ice float approximately 50 miles above Earth, within the mesosphere—a layer of the atmosphere that remains largely unexplored.
For decades, these clouds remained a mystery until NASA’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere mission shed light on their formation around 20 years ago. Researchers discovered that these clouds develop when ice crystals condense on meteor smoke—tiny particles produced by shooting stars that disintegrate in the atmosphere. Surprisingly, the ice within the mesosphere forms a continuous layer, creating stunning visual phenomena.
During summer months, these iridescent clouds sparkle at dawn and dusk, predominantly near the North and South Poles of Earth. Recently, astronaut Matthew Dominick shared a breathtaking photograph taken from the International Space Station on July 4, showcasing the beauty of these clouds juxtaposed against a crescent moon.
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick photographs a crescent moon over so-called noctilucent clouds from the International Space Station on July 4, 2024.
Credit: Matthew Dominick / Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit / NASA Johnson Space Center
“We have been fortunate to witness numerous breathtaking sunrises lately, adorned with magnificent noctilucent clouds,” Dominick stated on X in July 2024. “I’ve probably taken about a thousand images of them in just the past week.”
The first sightings of iridescent clouds on Mars date back to NASA’s Pathfinder mission in 1997. It wasn’t until 2019 that Curiosity observed these clouds for the first time. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that the rover has detected them during early fall, raising intriguing questions about why these dazzling mother-of-pearl clouds have not been documented in other regions of Mars. Notably, NASA’s Perseverance rover, stationed in the northern hemisphere’s Jezero Crater, has yet to encounter them.
Scientists speculate that specific Martian areas may be more conducive to the formation of these clouds. One theory suggests that gravity waves, which cool the atmosphere, may facilitate the condensation of carbon dioxide into ice in the southern latitudes.
Lemmon led a comprehensive study on Curiosity’s initial two seasons of twilight cloud observations, which was published in Geophysical Research Letters late last year. He vividly recalls his first encounter with these clouds, initially mistaking them for a color artifact in the images. Now, scientists have the capability to predict and plan for these extraordinary cloud formations.
“The beauty of these clouds never ceases to amaze me each time I witness a new example,” he remarked.
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Brandon Fletcher
