NASA’s MAVEN Spacecraft Delivers Breathtaking Ultraviolet Images of Mars

In 2022 and 2023, NASA’s MAVEN mission (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) captured two fascinating ultraviolet images of Mars at different points in its solar orbit. These photos, strikingly colorized for better visibility, provide distinct insights into the Martian atmosphere, its seasonal shifts, and detailed topography, thus enhancing our understanding of Mars’ climatic past and possible habitability. Credit: NASA/LASP/CU Boulder

Two exceptional ultraviolet images of Mars have been produced by NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft, taken during contrasting points of the planet’s revolution around the Sun in 2022 and 2023.

By observing Mars through ultraviolet wavelengths, researchers can delve into the planet’s atmospheric composition and unveil unique aspects of its surface features.

An artistic depiction of MAVEN orbiting Mars offers a captivating look at this mission. Credit: NASA/GSFC

In 2022 and 2023, while Mars was at opposite ends of its elliptical solar orbit, MAVEN’s Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument procured these global snapshots of the planet.

The IUVS instrument captures wavelengths between 110 and 340 nanometers, outside of human visible spectrum. To translate these wavelengths into a format discernible to the human eye, the images are displayed with varying brightness levels of three ultraviolet wavelength ranges, represented as red, green, and blue. In this coloring scheme, atmospheric ozone shows up as purple, clouds and hazes appear white or blue, and the surface can look tan or green, depending on the image optimization to enhance contrast and detail.

During the Martian southern summer, the MAVEN spacecraft captured a haze-filled Argyre Basin and a diminishing southern polar ice cap as the planet approached its closest point to the Sun. Credit: NASA/LASP/CU Boulder

In July 2022, the first image was captured during the summer season of the southern hemisphere, which happens when Mars is closest to the Sun. Argyre Basin, one of Mars’ deepest craters, is depicted filled with atmospheric haze, colored pale pink here. The sprawling canyons of Valles Marineris, colored tan, can be seen filled with clouds. The southern polar ice cap is discernible at the bottom in white, receding due to the relative summer warmth. The summer heat and dust storms cause water vapor to ascend to high altitudes, explaining MAVEN’s observation of increased hydrogen loss from Mars at this time of year.

After Mars had passed its farthest point in its solar orbit, the MAVEN mission unveiled a scene of the northern hemisphere laden with ozone and abundant white clouds. Credit: NASA/LASP/CU Boulder

Captured in January 2023, the second image showcases Mars’ northern hemisphere after the planet had distanced itself most from the Sun. The rapidly fluctuating seasons in the northern polar region result in a proliferation of white clouds. The deep canyons of Valles Marineris, along with numerous craters, are visible in tan at the lower left. Ozone, appearing magenta in this UV view, has accumulated during the cold polar nights of the northern winter. It then degrades in the northern spring due to chemical reactions with water vapor, which is confined to the lower atmospheric altitudes at this time of year.

Launched in November 2013, MAVEN arrived at Mars’ orbit in September 2014. The mission is aimed at studying the planet’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and its interactions with the Sun and solar wind to comprehend the loss of the Martian atmosphere into space. This understanding offers scientists insights into the Martian atmospheric and climatic history, liquid water, and planetary habitability. As of now, the MAVEN team is gearing up to celebrate the spacecraft’s 10-year Martian anniversary in September 2024.

The principal investigator for MAVEN is based at the University of California, Berkeley, while NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland oversees the mission. The MAVEN spacecraft was constructed by Lockheed Martin Space, which also manages mission operations. Navigation and Deep Space Network support are provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics is in charge of managing science operations, public outreach, and communications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MAVEN Mars Mission

More about MAVEN Mars Mission

• NASA’s MAVEN Mission
• About the MAVEN Spacecraft
• Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN)
• MAVEN’s Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS)
• Mars Exploration Program