NASA explains mystery rainbow on Mars

A "rainbow" pictured on Mars is simply a lens flare, NASA has revealed.

The NASA Perseverance Mars Rover account tweeted a photo on Tuesday which appeared to show a rainbow on Mars. It was actually a lens flare.

"Rainbows are created by light reflected off of round water droplets," NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover account tweeted. "There isn't enough water here to condense, and it’s too cold for liquid water in the atmosphere."

A lens flare is caused by a bright light source shining into the lens, like the sun.

"Rainbows aren't possible here," NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover said in a tweet. "This arc is a lens flare."