New ultraviolet observations of the Red Planet highlight complex circulation patterns in the Martian atmosphere, including eerily regular nightglow pulses invisible to the unaided eye.

UVS provides a completely new lens with which to observe the Red Planet, revealing previously unseen circulation patterns in the Martian atmosphere.

By studying Mars in ultraviolet light, the researchers were able to visualize the effects of global-scale winds and waves high up in the Martian atmosphere.

By viewing Mars in UV light, the scientists were able to visualize changes in wind patterns across the different seasons, which influence the atmospheric nightglows.

“MAVEN’s main discoveries of atmosphere loss and climate change show the importance of these vast circulation patterns that transport atmospheric gases around the globe and from the surface to the edge of space,” explained LASP scientist and study co-author Sonal Jain in the press release.