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On its last flyby of Venus, NASA’s Parker solar probe was once again dangled by the second planet from the Sun for its annual increase in gravity. During this routine flyby, something unexpected happened: the probe detected natural radio emissions. Now space agency researchers say the emissions are coming from Venus’ atmosphere. And that the atmosphere itself changes in “puzzling” ways in response to the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle.
NASA recently announced the detection by the solar probe of the Venusian atmosphere. The space agency notes that the last time a space probe detected Venus’ atmosphere was almost 30 years ago, when the Pioneer Venus Orbiter still existed. (RIP Pioneer. You did well to show us the strangeness of Venus.)
In the video above, NASA scientists performed sonication of the data, translating radio data from Parker’s FIELDS instrument into sound. FIELDS detected low frequency natural radio waves as the probe moved through the Venusian atmosphere; radio data, subsequently, allowed scientists to calculate the thickness of the planet’s electrically charged upper atmosphere.
NASA
NASA scientists, who published their results in the journal Geophysical research letters, say this latest detection shows that Venus’s upper atmosphere – or its ionosphere – is indeed thinning. This enlightenment, say the scientists, occurs in accordance with the Sun going through its period of “solar minimum”; that is, the period of its 11-year surface activity cycle when it has the fewest sunspots.
Meli thev
Why the ionosphere of Venus thins in accordance with the solar minimum is an important question; one who now needs an answer. Understanding why this phenomenon occurs will help scientists unravel the mystery of Venus’ reaction to the Sun in general. In addition to determining how the atmosphere of Venus, which was once so similar to that of Earth, became the poisonous, hot, CO2-laden envelope of gas that it is today.
Featured Image: NASA / Guillermo Stenborg and Brendan Gallagher
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