NASA On Air: NASA’s Curiosity Sees Blue Sunset On Mars (5/21/2015)

  • Released Thursday, May 21st, 2015
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:49PM
  • ID: 11875

LEAD: NASA’s Curiosity rover captured its first Mars sunset in color and indicates the sky is blue.

1. This Martian sunset sequence was captured over seven minutes on April 15, 2015.

2. Why is it blue?

3. On Earth our sunsets are red because the molecules in the atmosphere scatter or filter out the blue wavelength light.

4. On Mars the Martian dust particles permit blue light to penetrate the atmosphere more efficiently than light that is red in color.

TAG: Dust in the Martian atmosphere is common during its spring season.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia19401/sunset-sequence-in-mars-gale-crater

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Missions

This visualization is related to the following missions: