National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, has revealed a **true-color image of Venus**, a planet often nicknamed Earth’s twin. This image was captured by the **MESSENGER spacecraft**, which was sent to explore Mercury. It was the first time in decades that a spacecraft had visited Mercury, as only the **Mariner 10** probe had previously visited the planet in the 1970s. The image shows Venus as a creamy white planet, reflecting its historic image as the bright “morning star” observed since ancient times.
MESSENGER, an acronym for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging probe, is a NASA spacecraft launched in August 2003 with the goal of exploring Mercury. It was the first mission to venture back to Mercury in decades, following the Mariner 10 mission that ended in March 1975.
After its launch in 2003, the MESSENGER spacecraft embarked on a journey to Mercury, taking six and a half years and covering a total distance of 7.9 billion kilometers to reach its destination. During this journey, the spacecraft passed by Venus and captured true-color images that were sent back to Earth.
Venus, the second planet from the Sun, orbits and rotates slowly. It takes 224.7 Earth days to complete one orbit around the Sun and 243 Earth days to complete a full rotation on its axis. However, its solar day is only 117 Earth days long. This makes Venus the planet with the slowest rotation in our solar system.
Venus’s orbit lies within Earth’s orbit, making it appear close to the sun from our perspective. It can be observed in the early evening in the western sky, known as the “evening star,” and in the morning in the eastern sky as the “morning star.” A thick layer of clouds completely shrouds Venus, making it impossible to directly observe its surface.
Data & Reference Images
– nasa.gov
– thaiastro.nectec.or.th
– spaceth.co
NASA’s True-Color Image of Venus: Unveiling Earth’s “Twin”
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has released a breathtaking true-color image of Venus, often referred to as Earth’s twin. This stunning image was captured by the MESSENGER spacecraft, a probe launched to explore Mercury, providing the first close-up view of Venus in decades. The previous encounter with Venus was by the Mariner 10 spacecraft, which produced an image of a creamy white planet that has become synonymous with our perception of Venus.
Exploring Venus Through MESSENGER
The MESSENGER acronym stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging probe. It was launched from Earth in August 2003 with the primary goal of studying Mercury, the innermost planet of our solar system. However, during its six-and-a-half-year journey spanning 7.9 billion kilometers, MESSENGER made a close flyby of Venus, capturing valuable data and images of our celestial neighbor.
Venus: Earth’s “Twin” with a Twist
Venus, the second planet from the Sun, holds a fascinating place in our solar system. Despite being called Earth’s twin due to their similar size and composition, Venus possesses distinct characteristics. It orbits the Sun at a much slower pace than Earth, taking 224.7 Earth days to complete one revolution. Its rotational period is even slower, taking a staggering 243 Earth days to complete one rotation on its axis. Interestingly, the solar day on Venus is 117 Earth days long, making it the planet with the slowest rotation in our solar system.
A Veil of Mystery: Venus’s Atmosphere
Venus’s orbit lies within Earth’s orbit, making it appear close to the Sun from our perspective. It can be seen in the early evening in the west, referred to as the “evening star,” or in the early morning in the east, known as the “morning star.” However, a thick layer of clouds shrouds Venus, preventing us from seeing its surface directly.
Glimpses into Venus’s Surface
Despite the cloud cover, scientists are able to study Venus’s surface using radar and other remote sensing techniques. These studies reveal a landscape marked by volcanoes, vast plains, and impact craters. Venus is also known for its extremely hot surface temperature, reaching an average of 464 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest planet in our solar system.
Continuing Exploration
The data gathered by MESSENGER continues to shed light on the mysteries of Venus. It provides invaluable insights into its atmosphere, surface features, and geologic history. This information is crucial for understanding the evolution of planets and the potential for life beyond Earth.
References
- nasa.gov
- thaiastro.nectec.or.th
- spaceth.co
