NASA’s Mars spacecraft are currently in a unique position to study solar flares and radiation on the Red Planet during the Sun’s peak activity this year. The solar maximum, which occurs approximately every 11 years, is when the Sun is most active and prone to erupting with fiery solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
Unlike Earth, Mars has lost its global magnetic field, making it more susceptible to the Sun’s energetic particles. Researchers are hoping to gain a better understanding of the effects of solar radiation on Mars before eventually sending astronauts to the planet.
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft and the Curiosity rover are currently hard at work studying solar flares and radiation on Mars. MAVEN is observing radiation from above the planet, while Curiosity’s Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) is measuring radiation levels on the surface. Both missions are working in tandem to provide real-time observations of solar events at Mars.
Scientists are particularly interested in how the solar maximum could explain Mars’ transformation from a warm, wet world to a freezing desert. They are also looking into the possibility of global dust storms and solar storms stripping water from the planet.
This solar maximum is coinciding with the beginning of the dustiest season on Mars, providing researchers with a unique opportunity to study the effects of solar activity on the planet. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are leading the MAVEN and Curiosity missions to study solar activity on Mars and unlock the mysteries of the Red Planet’s past climate.
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