Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is often referred to as Earth’s “sister planet” due to similarities in size, composition, and mass. However, its environmental conditions are vastly different. Characterized by its thick, toxic atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide, with clouds of sulfuric acid, Venus experiences the most extreme greenhouse effect in the solar system, resulting in surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead. This atmosphere creates a surface pressure more than 90 times that of Earth. Venus rotates very slowly on its axis and in the opposite direction of most planets in the solar system, making its day longer than its year. Despite its inhospitable conditions, Venus has been the subject of extensive scientific study, which has revealed volcanic activity and complex weather patterns, including powerful winds and cyclonic storms.
Researchers are turning to gallium nitride for high-temperature applications such as Venus exploration, due to its ability to withstand temperatures above 500 degrees Celsius. A…
Recent findings of a Venus-like planet, Gliese 12 b, enhance our search for life-supporting planets, providing a closer look at potential “evil twins” of Earth….
Recent analyses of NASA’s Magellan radar data revealed two volcanic eruptions on Venus in the early 1990s, adding to previous discoveries of volcanic activity. These…
Astronomers using NASA’s TESS and other facilities have discovered a planet between the sizes of Earth and Venus, only 40 light-years away, named Gliese 12…
Scientists have discovered Gliese 12 b, an exoplanet similar in size to Venus and only 40 light-years away, with investigations ongoing to determine its atmosphere…
Researchers have discovered that Venus loses significantly more water than previously thought due to a process called “dissociative recombination,” where hydrogen atoms escape into space….
New findings from BepiColombo show escape of heavy ions from Venus, hinting at complex atmospheric dynamics. A fleeting visit of the European Space Agency (ESA)/Japan…
Similar to Earth but incapable of sustaining life. Despite surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead, lava-spewing volcanoes, and puffy clouds of sulfuric acid, uninhabitable…
Results suggest the clouds of Venus could be hospitable for some forms of life. If there is life in the solar system beyond Earth, it…
ESA’s EnVision mission to Venus, set for a 2031 launch, aims to explore the planet’s geology, climate, and internal structure. This comprehensive study seeks to…
Researchers may have identified the missing component in the chemistry of the Venusian clouds that would explain their color and ‘splotchiness’ in the UV range,…
Simulations produced by a Brown-led research team offer evidence that Venus once had plate tectonics — a finding that opens the door for the possibility…
The JPL-led international team used the island as a stand-in for Venus to test radar technologies that will help uncover the planet’s ground truth. With…
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe used a Venus flyby to prepare for its upcoming record-setting orbits around the Sun, aiming to study the Sun’s mysteries as…
Models show Venus’ superheated core could produce extended volcanism and long-lived resurfacing. A Southwest Research Institute-led team has modeled the early impact history of Venus…
Why is Venus called Earth’s evil twin? Venus and Earth are sometimes called twins because they’re pretty much about the same size. Venus is almost…
What are some skywatching highlights in May 2023? Venus reaches its highest point in the evening sky for the year, while Jupiter disappears behind the…
Researchers analyzing Magellan spacecraft radar images discovered a changing volcanic vent on Venus, providing new evidence of active volcanism on the planet. Researchers have identified…