• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • TV/Radio Deals
  • Film partnerships
  • New appointments
  • Production
  • TV Channels
Hope probe discovers ‘patchy’ Mars proton aurora

Hope probe discovers ‘patchy’ Mars proton aurora

September 1, 2022
Du expands Disney+ partnership with one-year free access

Du expands Disney+ partnership with one-year free access

July 11, 2025
Ad 1
Dubai Studios hosts semi-final judging round of International Emmy Awards

Dubai Studios hosts semi-final judging round of International Emmy Awards

July 11, 2025
Du and Omantel activate Oman-Emirates Gateway subsea cable

Du and Omantel activate Oman-Emirates Gateway subsea cable

July 11, 2025
SES and Intelsat deal receives Federal clearance

SES and Intelsat deal receives Federal clearance

July 11, 2025
Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival

Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival

July 11, 2025
Du renews partnership with Huawei

Du renews partnership with Huawei

July 11, 2025
UAE entities seek director and exec producer from among People of Determination

Abu Dhabi’s CMA and Fingerprint Media sign deal to boost Arabic productions

July 11, 2025
Saudi Theatre and Performing Arts Commission to participate in Avignon Festival

Saudi Theatre and Performing Arts Commission to participate in Avignon Festival

July 11, 2025
Ericsson establishes new regional headquarters in Riyadh

Ericsson establishes new regional headquarters in Riyadh

July 10, 2025
Charlie Coleman joins Amazon MGM Studios as Head of International Marketing

Charlie Coleman joins Amazon MGM Studios as Head of International Marketing

July 10, 2025
Neo Space Group finalises UP42 acquisition from Airbus Defence and Space

Neo Space Group finalises UP42 acquisition from Airbus Defence and Space

July 10, 2025
Lionsgate appoints Adam Fogelson as Vice Chair of Motion Picture Group

Semafor names Matthew Martin Saudi bureau chief and SWF editor

July 10, 2025
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Archive
  • Directory
  • Contact
Saturday, July 12, 2025
BroadcastPro ME
  • News
    • All
    • Analyst Reports
    • AV
    • Cinema Theatres
    • Esports
    • Film partnerships
    • International News
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • New appointments
    • OTT/Video Streaming
    • Podcasting
    • Production
    • Satellite/Comms
    • TV/Radio Deals
    Du expands Disney+ partnership with one-year free access

    Du expands Disney+ partnership with one-year free access

    Dubai Studios hosts semi-final judging round of International Emmy Awards

    Dubai Studios hosts semi-final judging round of International Emmy Awards

    Du and Omantel activate Oman-Emirates Gateway subsea cable

    Du and Omantel activate Oman-Emirates Gateway subsea cable

    SES and Intelsat deal receives Federal clearance

    SES and Intelsat deal receives Federal clearance

    Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival

    Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival

    Du renews partnership with Huawei

    Du renews partnership with Huawei

    UAE entities seek director and exec producer from among People of Determination

    Abu Dhabi’s CMA and Fingerprint Media sign deal to boost Arabic productions

    Saudi Theatre and Performing Arts Commission to participate in Avignon Festival

    Saudi Theatre and Performing Arts Commission to participate in Avignon Festival

    Ericsson establishes new regional headquarters in Riyadh

    Ericsson establishes new regional headquarters in Riyadh

    Charlie Coleman joins Amazon MGM Studios as Head of International Marketing

    Charlie Coleman joins Amazon MGM Studios as Head of International Marketing

    Trending Tags

    • broadcast
    • MENA broadcast
    • ConnecTech2019
  • Tech Features
    • All
    • CASE STUDIES
    • New Media
    • REVIEWS
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • Updates from FOMEX
    • Virtual Production Series
    Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

    Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

    Playing to win

    Playing to win

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Trending Tags

    • Videos
      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Reema Omari

      Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

      Mustafa Afifi

      Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

      Don

      ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

      KSASummit

      Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

    • Opinion
      Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

      Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

      Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

    • Interviews
      • All
      • Lounge
      Sand, sweat and high stakes

      Sand, sweat and high stakes

      All eyes on AIUIa

      All eyes on AIUIa

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Shades of success

      Shades of success

      Navigating the news wave

      Navigating the news wave

    • Products
    • Magazine Archive
      • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
      • PRO Directory
    • Events
      • News from Events
      • Upcoming Events
      DICM

      DICM

      IBC Show

      IBC 2025

      MPTS

      CABSAT2025

      CABSAT2025

      NAB Show

    No Result
    View All Result
    BroadcastPro ME
    • News
      • All
      • Analyst Reports
      • AV
      • Cinema Theatres
      • Esports
      • Film partnerships
      • International News
      • Mergers/Acquisitions
      • New appointments
      • OTT/Video Streaming
      • Podcasting
      • Production
      • Satellite/Comms
      • TV/Radio Deals
      Du expands Disney+ partnership with one-year free access

      Du expands Disney+ partnership with one-year free access

      Dubai Studios hosts semi-final judging round of International Emmy Awards

      Dubai Studios hosts semi-final judging round of International Emmy Awards

      Du and Omantel activate Oman-Emirates Gateway subsea cable

      Du and Omantel activate Oman-Emirates Gateway subsea cable

      SES and Intelsat deal receives Federal clearance

      SES and Intelsat deal receives Federal clearance

      Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival

      Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films to premiere at Locarno Film Festival

      Du renews partnership with Huawei

      Du renews partnership with Huawei

      UAE entities seek director and exec producer from among People of Determination

      Abu Dhabi’s CMA and Fingerprint Media sign deal to boost Arabic productions

      Saudi Theatre and Performing Arts Commission to participate in Avignon Festival

      Saudi Theatre and Performing Arts Commission to participate in Avignon Festival

      Ericsson establishes new regional headquarters in Riyadh

      Ericsson establishes new regional headquarters in Riyadh

      Charlie Coleman joins Amazon MGM Studios as Head of International Marketing

      Charlie Coleman joins Amazon MGM Studios as Head of International Marketing

      Trending Tags

      • broadcast
      • MENA broadcast
      • ConnecTech2019
    • Tech Features
      • All
      • CASE STUDIES
      • New Media
      • REVIEWS
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • Updates from FOMEX
      • Virtual Production Series
      Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

      Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

      Playing to win

      Playing to win

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Trending Tags

      • Videos
        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Reema Omari

        Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

        Mustafa Afifi

        Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

        Don

        ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

        KSASummit

        Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      • Opinion
        Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

        Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

        Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

      • Interviews
        • All
        • Lounge
        Sand, sweat and high stakes

        Sand, sweat and high stakes

        All eyes on AIUIa

        All eyes on AIUIa

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Shades of success

        Shades of success

        Navigating the news wave

        Navigating the news wave

      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events
        • News from Events
        • Upcoming Events
        DICM

        DICM

        IBC Show

        IBC 2025

        MPTS

        CABSAT2025

        CABSAT2025

        NAB Show

      No Result
      View All Result
      BroadcastPro ME
      No Result
      View All Result
      AMT Ad ibc Ad
      Home News Satellite/Comms

      Hope probe discovers ‘patchy’ Mars proton aurora

      Staff Reporter by Staff Reporter
      September 1, 2022
      in Satellite/Comms
      ShareTweetPostEmail

      Through a data-sharing partnership with NASA’s Maven mission, scientists were able to study the planet’s plasma environment while the aurora was happening.

      The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) has discovered patchy ‘proton auroras’ above Mars, suggesting unexpectedly chaotic conditions where the solar wind interacts with the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere.

      The spatially variable ‘patchy’ proton aurora potentially triggers new insights into unexpected behaviours in the Martian atmosphere. The EMM team has worked together with NASA’s Maven (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission to fully characterise these observations. The combination of EMM’s unprecedented global aurora images with Maven’s simultaneous local plasma observations opens up new avenues for understanding the drivers of Mars’ enigmatic aurora.

      Hessa Al Matroushi, EMM’s Science Lead, said: “Our discovery of this patchy proton aurora adds a new kind of event to the long list of those currently studied by EMM and challenges our existing views of how the proton aurora on Mars’ dayside are formed. The EMM Hope probe has so far uncovered many unexpected phenomena that extend our understanding of Mars’ atmospheric and magnetospheric dynamics. These new observations, combined with Maven data, have lifted the lid on entirely new possibilities for scientific research.”

      This new patchy type of proton aurora is formed when the solar wind directly impacts Mars’ dayside upper atmosphere and emits ultraviolet light as it slows down. It was discovered in snapshots of the dayside disk obtained by the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS), which observes the planet’s upper atmosphere and exosphere, scanning for variability in atmospheric composition and atmospheric escape to space. The aurora manifests as bright regions scattered across the dayside of the planet in two ultraviolet wavelengths associated with the Hydrogen atom, Lyman beta at 102.6 nm and Lyman alpha at 121.6 nm. Under normal conditions, the dayside disk of the planet at these wavelengths is uniform, and the planetary brightness results from Hydrogen atoms scattering sunlight. When the aurora occurs, small regions of the planet become much brighter at these wavelengths, signifying intense localised energy deposition in the atmosphere.

      EMM science team member and lead author of a newly submitted paper on the proton aurora, Mike Chaffin, added: “We’ve seen emissions at these wavelengths before, thanks to proton aurora studies by NASA’s Maven mission, but these EMM EMUS images represent the first time we’ve had a global view of spatial variability in proton aurora at Mars, and the first time we’ve been able to unambiguously observe this patchy structure. We know that these wavelengths are only emitted by the Hydrogen atom, which tells us that super energetic Hydrogen atoms must be present in the atmosphere in order to produce the auroral emission.”

      A data-sharing agreement between EMM and MAVEN has enabled analysis of the new EMM images using plasma observations made by Maven, which has been characterising the Mars ionosphere and magnetosphere since 2014. Maven carries a full suite of plasma instruments, including a magnetometer and two ion electrostatic analysers that measured the Martian plasma and fields environment during EMM’s observations of patchy proton aurora events.

      Maven Principal Investigator Shannon Curry stated: “Multi-vantage point measurements of the Martian atmosphere tell us about the real-time response of the atmosphere to the Sun. These types of simultaneous observations probe the fundamental physics of atmospheric dynamics and evolution.”

      Al Matroushi added: “Access to Maven data has been essential for placing these new observations into a wider context. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of our existing knowledge not only of Mars, but of planetary interactions with the solar wind.”

      Martian proton auroras were originally discovered by Maven and subsequently found in data from ESA’s Mars Express mission, but most of these previous observations show uniform auroral emission across the dayside of the planet. By contrast, the EMUS observations are able to unambiguously reveal small-scale spatial structure. Scientists from both teams now believe the patchy aurora can only be produced by plasma turbulence in the space surrounding Mars. “Because of the size scales involved in the solar wind and extended hydrogen atmosphere of Mars, there’s no way the standard proton aurora formation mechanism could produce the aurora we’re observing with EMUS,” said Chaffin.

      “In the August 11 observations, the aurora is so widespread and so disorganised that the plasma environment around Mars must have been truly disturbed. Thanks to Maven measurements of the Mars plasma environment simultaneous with the aurora, we can confidently say that the solar wind is directly impacting the upper atmosphere wherever we’re seeing auroral emission,” he added. “What we’re seeing is essentially a map of where the solar wind is raining down onto the planet.”

      The simultaneous observations of patchy proton aurora by Hope and measurements of plasma conditions by Maven are therefore a window into rare circumstances, when the interaction between Mars and the solar wind is unusually chaotic.

      Hope has observed a patchy aurora multiple times over the course of its mission so far, and the shape of the aurora is not always the same. On 30th August 2021, for example, the patchy proton aurora was confined to a much smaller portion of the disk than on 11th August, suggesting a different mechanism may be at work. Plasma turbulence at Mars can occur under a variety of conditions, and different shapes of patchy proton aurora may reveal different plasma conditions.

      As of June 2022, Mars is about a month away from the peak of its Southern Summer, when proton aurorae are known to be at their most active. “Whether we’ll see anything as spectacular as what we’ve already got is anyone’s guess, but I’m hopeful. Hope continues to far exceed our expectations for scientific discovery, and I can’t wait to see what we learn next,” said Chaffin.

      Tags: Emirates Mars MissionEMM Hope probeHope ProbeMars auroraMars MissionMars proton auroraMartian proton aurorasMaven dataproton auroras

      Related Posts

      MBRSC opens registration for Summer Space Explorer Camp 2025

      MBRSC opens registration for Summer Space Explorer Camp 2025

      July 4, 2025
      Paratus launches EduLINK to bring Starlink internet to African schools

      Paratus launches EduLINK to bring Starlink internet to African schools

      July 3, 2025
      Project Kuiper and NSF sign satellite coordination agreement

      Project Kuiper and NSF sign satellite coordination agreement

      July 1, 2025
      Intelsat partners with WPDI to expand education access

      Intelsat partners with WPDI to expand education access

      June 26, 2025
      Thales unveils advanced dual-use radar system

      Thales unveils advanced dual-use radar system

      June 16, 2025
      How a Europe-Middle East alliance could shape the future of space

      How a Europe-Middle East alliance could shape the future of space

      May 25, 2025

      Related News

      MBRSC opens registration for Summer Space Explorer Camp 2025

      MBRSC opens registration for Summer Space Explorer Camp 2025

      July 4, 2025
      Paratus launches EduLINK to bring Starlink internet to African schools

      Paratus launches EduLINK to bring Starlink internet to African schools

      July 3, 2025
      Project Kuiper and NSF sign satellite coordination agreement

      Project Kuiper and NSF sign satellite coordination agreement

      July 1, 2025
      Intelsat partners with WPDI to expand education access

      Intelsat partners with WPDI to expand education access

      June 26, 2025
      Thales unveils advanced dual-use radar system

      Thales unveils advanced dual-use radar system

      June 16, 2025
      How a Europe-Middle East alliance could shape the future of space

      How a Europe-Middle East alliance could shape the future of space

      May 25, 2025
      More Related News

      BroadcastPro ME

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe
      • Magazine Archive
      • Directory
      • Contact
      • Privacy

      Follow us on Social Media

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Tech Features
      • Videos
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In