The green light phenomenon observed over Venus and Mars has attracted the attention of scientists around the world. Although at first glance it might seem to be a supernatural phenomenon, in fact it has a deep scientific basis related to the processes occurring in the atmospheres of these planets.
On Mars, as shown by observations made by the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) satellite, green light is the result of the recombination of oxygen atoms, creating excited-state oxygen molecules, which then emit light in the visible range.
These atoms are created in Mars' atmosphere when sunlight splits carbon dioxide molecules and are then carried by winds to high latitudes, where they recombine. This phenomenon, concentrated in the planet's polar regions, is particularly intense and reverses every half a Martian year, changing the hemisphere.
Similar processes are taking place on Venus, where light emission in the visible and ultraviolet ranges has been observed, indicating the presence of excited oxygen. This is the result of direct collisions between the solar wind and molecules in Venus' atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and oxygen. Although Venus does not have a significant global magnetic field, solar winds interact with the planet's atmosphere to produce aurorae, including green emissions similar to those seen on Earth during aurora borealis.
These discoveries shed light on the complex processes taking place in the upper atmospheres of Mars and Venus, providing valuable information about their composition and dynamics. On Mars, nighttime emissions serve as an indicator of atmospheric processes, providing data on oxygen density and how energy is deposited by sunlight and solar wind.
This, in turn, is crucial for future missions to the surface of the Red Planet, influencing the experiences of orbiting satellites and the parachutes used to deliver probes to the surface of Mars.
Moreover, observing green light could also help future astronauts navigate on Mars by offering natural illumination in the darkness of the Martian night. These extraordinary discoveries not only expand our knowledge of both planets, but also open new opportunities for space exploration.
Everything indicates that the strange green light over Venus and Mars is not evidence of extraterrestrial life or a supernatural phenomenon, but a fascinating scientific discovery that allows us to better understand atmospheric processes on these planets.
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