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Science 17 February 2006:
Vol. 311. no. 5763, p. 913
DOI: 10.1126/science.311.5763.913c
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This Week in Science

Aurorae occur when charged particles are accelerated along magnetic field lines into a planetary atmosphere. Lundin et al. (p. 980) have mapped the motions of ions and electrons flowing in arcs above Mars using the ASPERA-3 experiment on board the orbiting Mars Express spacecraft. The looped paths of charged particles in the martian atmosphere are associated with regions of strong magnetism on the planet's surface, where aurorae have also been seen. This formation mechanism for aurorae on Mars is similar to the one for Earth.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)