Noctilucent clouds are ethereal, ice crystal clouds observed in the Earth's upper atmosphere, particularly noted during evening hours. These clouds shine even when the Earth below is dark. Interestingly, there is potential for similar formations on Mars, where the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter detected these clouds two decades ago. Recently, NASA's Curiosity rover captured remarkable images of noctilucent clouds over Mars, showcasing their mostly white appearance with hints of red, further illuminating the atmospheric dynamics of our neighboring planet.
In the mid- and upper-latitudes on Earth, during the early evening hours, thin and wispy clouds can sometimes be observed in the upper atmosphere.
Meteorologists call these noctilucent clouds, which essentially translates to 'night-shining' clouds.
There is no reason why these clouds could not also exist on Mars, which has a thin atmosphere.
A couple of weeks ago, the rover's Mastcam instrument captured a truly stunning view of noctilucent clouds in the skies above.
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