These are the first visible light images of the surface of Venus taken by NASA’s Parker Solar probe and published today on the US agency’s website. The surface of Venus is special: it is practically hidden from our view because its atmosphere is made up of very dense and omnipresent clouds.
Various geological conformations
However, the probe made a few peculiar and very close flybys of the planet and, using its Wide-Field Imager camera, managed to photograph the night side of the planet in the visible light wavelength.
The researchers then combined the images to form a video in which different geological conformations such as plains and plateaus can be seen.
Also, the same images show, as the NASA release explains, a luminescent halo of oxygen in the atmosphere that appears to surround the entire planet.
Understanding the Geology of Venus
Nicola Fox, head of NASA’s heliophysics division, is enthusiastic. The probe continues to exceed scientists’ expectations and these results will contribute to a better understanding of what remains, in some respects, a mysterious planet as it is hidden by its dense cloudy atmosphere.
Analyzes like this can help not only to understand the geology of Venus, but also to determine what minerals are present on its surface. Thanks to these data, we can try to understand the true evolution of this planet. It is thought that Earth might one day become as inhospitable as Mars, but these are just theories.
amazing pictures
The first images were taken in July 2020 during a flyby by the Parker probe. Initially, the objective of the scientists was only to measure the speed of the clouds, as explained by Angelos Vourlidas, author of a study describing the new results obtained by the probe. However, the images were so clear, and so startling, that on a fourth close pass, which took place in February 2021, officials from Earth turned the camera back on, this time perfectly aligning the orbit of the vehicle to capture the night side. The images were amazing, as the scientists explain.
Wavelengths close to those of infrared.
The secret was to use the camera on the longest wavelengths, but still in the visible range (to the human eye). These wavelengths are close to those of infrared and, precisely, make it possible to see through the dense clouds of Venus. However, as this is the night side and therefore the dark side of the planet, the signal was quite weak. Despite this, the spacecraft captured a glow related to the remarkable level of heat the planet exudes.
