German researchers have discovered clear evidence of the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere of the planet Venus. Oxygen has already been discovered on the night side of the planet, and now they have been able for the first time to discover it also on the day side of Venus.
The results, published in the scientific journal Nature, show that there is a layer of atomic oxygen in the atmosphere of Venus. Oxygen disappears between two strong wind currents in the atmosphere: the first is located 70 kilometers above the surface of the planet and its path is opposite to the direction of Venus’ rotation, while the second current blows with the planet’s rotation and is located above 120 kilometers from the surface of Venus.
According to the German newspaper Merkur, which also wrote about the topic, Venus and Earth show a remarkable similarity, as they share size and age, and it is assumed that they originated from the same materials. However, important differences emerge. Earth is home to life, with oceans filled with liquid water rich in life, and there are living organisms everywhere on Earth, both on land and in the air thanks to the diffusion of oxygen, which is an important aspect when talking about life on planets.
On the other hand, Venus is very different, as it is surrounded by a dense cloud cover of gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and the planet is suffering from accelerated global warming, which makes it a planet that does not seem suitable for life.
Using the SOFIA Infrared Observatory, researchers succeeded in monitoring oxygen on Venus. Although the oxygen density there is about ten times lower than on Earth, this discovery opens new windows to understand the unique developments between the two sister planets. It is expected that this data will contribute to directing future space missions to Venus, and perhaps in revealing more of its mysteries.
The US Space Agency (NASA) intends to send two spacecraft to Venus in the coming years, which will enhance the opportunities to reveal more secrets of this mysterious planet and the interactions in its atmosphere.
The discovery of atomic oxygen on Venus represents an important addition to scientific knowledge, and may contribute to shedding light on the history and development of this bright and mysterious neighboring planet.
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