Recent research has revealed that Venus, the second planet from the sun and often referred to as Earth’s twin, is geologically active. This is a significant change in our understanding of Venus, which was previously believed to be geologically inactive.
The Geological Activity on Venus
A study published in Nature Geoscience has thrown new light on Venus’ geological state. The research identified 37 active volcanoes on the surface of Venus, characterized by the formation of ring-like structures known as coronae. These unusual structures on Venus are formed by plumes of hot material rising from deep within the planet, passing through the mantle layer, and breaking crust’s surface.
This is a remarkable discovery because, until recently, the scientific community believed that Venus had no geological activity. The presence of these active volcanoes indicates that the planet’s interior is still hot and dynamic.
Venus vs Other Planets
What makes this revelation particularly fascinating is the contrast it presents with other planets in our solar system. Comparatively, this shows that Venus has a younger surface relative to planets like Mars and Mercury. Those planets are considered to have cold interiors, indicating a lack of recent or current geological activity.
Implications for Future Missions
The findings carry significant implications for future exploratory missions. One such mission is Europe’s EnVision, scheduled for launch in 2032. The mission aims to determine the level and nature of the geological activity on Venus and understand the sequence of events that have shaped the planet’s surface features. With this new study, scientists will now have specific target areas to focus their exploration efforts on.
About Venus: Earth’s Hotter Twin
Venus, known as Earth’s “sister” planet due to their similar size, is the sixth-largest planet in the solar system and is closer to the sun than any other planet except Mercury. However, despite its proximity to Earth and similar physical characteristics, Venus is far from hospitable.
With extreme temperatures reaching 450 degrees Celsius, Venus holds the title for the hottest planet in our solar system. Additionally, its atmosphere contains highly corrosive sulfuric acid clouds, making it highly unsuitable for life as we know it.
A noteworthy feature of Venus is its unusual axial rotation. Unlike most other planets in the solar system, Venus spins in the opposite direction. This means that, as viewed from the planet’s surface, the sun would appear to rise in the west and set in the east. Interestingly, Venus shares this characteristic with Uranus, and like Mercury, it has neither moons nor rings.