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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."

2 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Don'l look like much by pegasustonans · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    Well, considering they're estimated to be about 1% as powerful, I'd have to venture a guess that they really don't look like much at all. At least not in visible light.

    --
    And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. --Will
  2. No, still wrong... by umofomia · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Borealis, Boreas - The great north wind; greek god of. aka Aquilo
    Australis, Auster - The great south wind; roman god of. aka Notus
    Even though the aurora was observed in the southern hemisphere of Mars, it doesn't mean it should automatically be called aurora australis. They're called borealis and australis on Earth because they're caused by the magnetic field lines going to the northern and southern poles, respectively.

    However, because Mars' magnetic field is too weak to create the phenomenon by similar means, the aurora is caused by a separate mechanism, namely the magnetic anomalies described in the article, which can occur anywhere on the planet. For this reason, it should not be called aurora borealis or aurora australis, but rather aurora [insert god of magnetic rocks here].