NASA Space Probe Detects Radio Emissions Coming from Venus
Twitter
0 comments
On its latest flyby of Venus, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe once again swung by the second planet from the Sun for its yearly gravity boost. On this routine flyby, something unexpected happened: the probe detected natural radio emissions. Now, researchers at the space agency say the emissions are from Venus’ atmosphere. And that the atmosphere itself is changing in “puzzling” ways in response to the Sun’s 11-year-long solar cycle.
NASA recently announced the solar probe’s detection of the Venusian atmosphere. The space agency notes that the last time a space probe detected Venus’ atmosphere was nearly 30 years ago, during a period when the Pioneer Venus Orbiter was still in existence. (RIP Pioneer. You did great showing us the weirdness of Venus.)
Scientists reveal how long is solar system s longest day
The study found that a single Venusian rotation takes 243.0226 Earth days
Reuters
May 05, 2021
Data from NASA s Magellan spacecraft and Pioneer Venus Orbiter is used in an undated composite image of the planet Venus. PHOTO: REUTERS
Data obtained by bouncing radio waves off Venus - treating it, as one scientist said, like a giant disco ball - is providing new insight into Earth s closest planetary neighbor, including a precise calculation of the duration of a Venusian day.
The study also measured the tilt of the Venusian axis and the size of the planet s core, allowing for a deeper understanding of an enigmatic world sometimes called Earth s evil twin.
The natural radio signal is helping scientists study the atmosphere of Earth s less hospitable twin, according to the NASA team responsible for the probe.