Curiosity rover captures rare Martian clouds (PHOTOS)

The American rover Curiosity, which has been working on Mars since 2012, sent back to Earth images of unusual Martian clouds similar to those on Earth. This is reported in blog NASA.

The publication notes that clouds form infrequently in the thin Martian atmosphere – they usually form in the equatorial zone during the coldest time of the year. At the same time, in the last Martian year (two Earth years ago), researchers noticed clouds that formed earlier than expected. This time, Curiosity was ready to observe and was able to capture these clouds in mid-March using its color and black-and-white cameras.

Judging by the images sent, these clouds formed above normal Martian clouds, which form at an altitude of about 60 kilometers from the surface of Mars. And if ordinary clouds are formed from water ice, then those taken by the rover, apparently, consisted of dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide).

NASA added that the images of the clouds were taken just after sunset – the last rays of the sun fell on the ice crystals that make up the clouds, creating the impression that the clouds were glowing against the darkening sky. Similar clouds are occasionally observed on Earth and are called noctilucent clouds.

Let us remind you that the American Perseverance rover with the Ingenuity helicopter, the Chinese Zhuzhong rover and the American research station InSight are also currently operating on Mars.