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Looking at a Martian Aurora Borealis

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the northern-lights dept.

mike_1138 writes "According to new research, 'The Martian auroras differ from those on Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune...' I've seen the Borealis here on Earth, and they're beautiful. I can't imagine what they must look like in a Martian night."

4 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Aurora Borealis? NO! Aurora Australis! by Bananatree3 · · Score: 4, Informative
    FTA:Auroras were detected from Terra Cimmeria in the southern hemisphere of Mars.

    southern hemispher auroras are called Aurora Australis. Nothern Hemisphere auroras are Aurora Borealis.

    1. Re:Aurora Borealis? NO! Aurora Australis! by zakezuke · · Score: 4, Informative

      The terms "Borealis" and "Australis" are somewhat meaningless on Mars. The correct term is simply "Aurora". It's the editors who made the goof.

      Borealis, Boreas - The great north wind; greek god of. aka Aquilo
      Australis, Auster - The great south wind; roman god of. aka Notus

      Aurora - latin / middle english - Dawn

      If you want to be anal about the subject, Aurora Aquilonis would be a bit more consistent with the Roman theme. But both words would apply on other planets just as well as they do on earth as it means the dawn north or south wind.

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
  2. Re:Magnetic Field? by TeacherOfHeroes · · Score: 3, Informative
    Planetary magnetic fields are caused by the activity in the interior of the planet. From Wikipedia:
    The Earth's core, however, is hotter than 1043 K, the Curie point temperature at which the orientations of electron orbits within iron become randomized. Such randomization tends to cause the substance to lose its magnetic field. Therefore the Earth's magnetic field is caused not by magnetised iron deposits, but mostly by electric currents (known as telluric currents).
    Another feature that distinguishes the Earth magnetically from a bar magnet is its magnetosphere. At large distances from the planet, this dominates the surface magnetic field. In addition, the magnetized elements within the planetary core are undergoing rotation and are not static.
    Electric currents induced in the ionosphere also generate magnetic fields. Such a field is always generated near where the atmosphere is closest to the Sun, causing daily alterations which can deflect surface magnetic fields by as much as one degree.
    As the planet ages, the core cools, and the resultant magnetic field decreases. Cehck out the full wikipedia article
  3. Re:I can't imagine what they must look like on Mar by SeaDour · · Score: 4, Informative

    Aurora on Jupiter: http://msslhx.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/~npm/Web_Pages/Visito r_Pages/aurora/Jupiter_aurora.gif

    Aurora on Saturn: http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/pages/general/news/satur ns_aurora/assets/saturn_aurora.jpg

    Uranus and Neptune probably have them too, but are too far away to see them clearly from Earth-based telescopes.