Venus briefly flashed a shimmering green light in the night sky above Sweden, new footage reveals. The rarely seen phenomenon is almost identical to the ethereal green flashes that are occasionally seen around the sun during sunrises and sunsets. Photographer Peter Rosén captured the colorful flash coming from one of our closest planetary neighbors while he was watching Venus rise above the horizon in Stockholm in the early hours of Jan. 8, Spaceweather.com reported. The bright flash, which lasted for around a second, was an “unexpected bonus” that added to…
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Crescent Moon Over NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
NASA / Joel Kowsky The crescent moon, along with Jupiter (top right of Moon) and Venus (below Moon) appeared over the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Feb. 22, 2023, as preparations continued for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission. NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev launched to the International Space Station March 2, 2023. The NASA Headquarters photographers chose this photo as one of the best images from 2023. See the rest on Flickr. Image…
Read MoreIf Venus had Earth-like plate tectonics in its distant past, did it have life too?
New research has revealed Venus may have had Earth-like plate tectonics billions of years ago. The finding opens up the possibility that the second planet from the sun, aka a scorching world, also once harbored life. With temperatures reaching levels high enough to melt lead, the hottest planet in our solar system seems an unlikely host for life as we know it — even the simplest kind. But, according to this new research, Venus was very different in its deep past. The goal of this work, according to the researchers,…
Read MoreThe History of Venus in Air, Rock, and Water
Forty years ago, NASA’s Magellan mission “closed the book” on Venus. Now, a new generation of astronomers think the planet next door deserves a second chance. The post The History of Venus in Air, Rock, and Water appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThe Parker Solar Probe Captures Surprising Images of Venus Nightside
A visible glow from our sister planet’s nightside sheds new light on a 300-year-old observing enigma dubbed the “ashen light.” The post The Parker Solar Probe Captures Surprising Images of Venus Nightside appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreVenus Farewell, Moonless Skies for the Quadrantids
Venus presents a stunning crescent at dusk before switching over to the morning sky early next month. After dodging the Moon for the Geminids, it’s dark skies all around for the Quadrantid meteor shower. The post Venus Farewell, Moonless Skies for the Quadrantids appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThe Case for an Active Volcano on Venus
After decades of studying Venus, many questions remain about our planetary next-door neighbor. One question has particularly intrigued astronomers: which, if any, of Venus’s 1,600 volcanoes are still active? The post The Case for an Active Volcano on Venus appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreTwo Space Probes to Pass by Venus Next Week
Two spacecraft are heading for a close Venus encounter: Solar Orbiter passes by on August 9th and BepiColombo on August 10th. The post Two Space Probes to Pass by Venus Next Week appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreWhat Will ESA’s EnVision Learn at Venus?
ESA’s EnVision mission to Venus adds to the growing number of spacecraft investigating our sister planet. How will they work together to understand our sister planet’? The post What Will ESA's EnVision Learn at Venus? appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreVenus Surface Is Fragmented Like “Pack Ice”
A new analysis of old data suggests that some of our sister planet’s unique surface formations are due to a “squishy” crust and an active interior. The post Venus Surface Is Fragmented Like “Pack Ice” appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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