**Today’s Current Affairs: Massive Solar Flare Heading Towards Mars**
Last week, Earth experienced a significant solar flare, resulting in stunning auroras. Now, Mars is in the firing line of another massive solar flare. Experts predict that the flare could cause global-scale auroras and energize Mars’s upper atmosphere. Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a magnetic field, making it vulnerable to these highly charged particles. NASA’s Perseverance rover is in a prime position to observe this spectacle up close. Stay tuned for more updates on this celestial event!
**What event occurred last week involving Earth and a solar flare?**
– Earth experienced a massive solar flare
– Mars was in the direct firing line of a massive coronal mass ejection
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover observed sunspots on the Red Planet
– Auroras were visible on Earth and Mars
Answer: Earth experienced a massive solar flare
**Which celestial body is going to face the wrath of a massive solar flare this week?**
– Mercury
– Venus
– Mars
– Jupiter
Answer: Mars
**What is the significance of MAVEN monitoring Mars’s upper atmosphere during solar flare events?**
– To study the effects of highly charged particles on Earth’s atmosphere
– To observe global-scale auroras on Mars
– To protect Mars from coronal mass ejections
– To monitor and study Mars’s upper atmosphere during events like solar flares
Answer: To monitor and study Mars’s upper atmosphere during events like solar flares
**Why is it significant that Mars lacks a magnetic field to protect it from highly charged particles?**
– Mars experiences extreme weather conditions
– It causes auroras to appear on Mars
– It allows for the generation of solar storms on Mars
– MAVEN needs to monitor Mars’s upper atmosphere to study the effects
Answer: MAVEN needs to monitor Mars’s upper atmosphere to study the effects
What happened to Earth last week in relation to a solar flare?
Earth faced a massive solar flare fired off sunspot AR3664 last week, which offered space enthusiasts a chance to witness auroras.
Which planet is now going to face the wrath of a massive solar flare?
This week, Mars is going to face the wrath of a massive solar flare.
What did Dr. Ed Thiemann mention regarding the solar flare seen from Mars?
Dr. Ed Thiemann mentioned that the solar flare measured from Mars is the largest seen since MAVEN arrived at Mars in 2014. He expects that the flare rapidly heated and ionized the Martian upper atmosphere, causing the temperature to double and inflating the entire daylit hemisphere by tens of km.
How will the coronal mass ejection affect Mars and what effect might be visible?
The coronal mass ejection will directly affect Mars, leading to interactions with the atmosphere and the generation of a solar storm. As a result, auroras might become visible on Mars, providing an awe-inspiring spectacle.
Why is it significant for MAVEN to remain at Mars during events like this?
Mars lacks a magnetic field to protect it from highly charged particles, so it is essential for MAVEN to monitor and study Mars’s upper atmosphere, particularly during events like this.
Today's current affairs bring news of a massive solar flare that Earth witnessed last week, giving space enthusiasts a chance to witness spectacular auroras. However, this week, Mars is in the line of fire, facing the wrath of this massive solar flare.
According to Dr. Ed Thiemann, a Heliophysicist at the University of Colorado, this solar flare is the largest observed since 2014. The event is expected to rapidly heat and ionize Mars' upper atmosphere, potentially causing the upper atmospheric temperature to double for a few hours.
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover is in a prime position to observe the sun with the sunspots AR3663 and AR3664 in its view. Just like Earth, Mars will be directly impacted by the coronal mass ejection, leading to interactions with the Martian atmosphere and the possibility of visible auroras.
Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a protective magnetic field, making it vulnerable to highly charged particles. Therefore, it is crucial for MAVEN, the spacecraft orbiting Mars, to continue monitoring and studying the planet's upper atmosphere, especially during such events.
