German researchers have found clear evidence of oxygen in the atmosphere of Venus, having already found oxygen on the night side of the planet, and now for the first time they have been able to find it on the day side as well. of Venus.
The results, published in the scientific journal Nature, show that the atmosphere of Venus has a layer of atomic oxygen. Oxygen disappears in the atmosphere between two strong air currents: the first is located at an altitude of 70 kilometers from the surface of the planet and its path is opposite to the direction of the rotation of Venus, the second current blows with the rotation of the planet and is located above 120. km from the surface of Venus.
According to the German newspaper Merkur, which wrote about the topic, Venus and Earth show remarkable similarities because they share size and age, and are thought to have formed from the same material. However, important differences emerge. Earth is home to life, the oceans are full of liquid water, and living things are everywhere on Earth, thanks to the diffusion of oxygen in the land and air, an important feature. When talking about planetary life.
Venus, on the other hand, is very different because it is surrounded by a thick cloud of gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and the planet is suffering from rapid global warming, which doesn’t seem conducive to life. .
Using the SOFIA infrared observatory, researchers succeeded in observing oxygen on Venus. Although the oxygen density is ten times lower than on Earth, the discovery opens new windows to understand the unique evolution between the two sister planets. This data is expected to contribute to powering future space missions to Venus and perhaps revealing its mysteries.
The US space agency (NASA) plans to send two spacecraft to Venus in the coming years, improving the chances of revealing more secrets of this mysterious planet and the interactions of its atmosphere.
The discovery of atomic oxygen on Venus is an important addition to scientific knowledge and may contribute to shedding light on the history and evolution of this bright and mysterious neighbor.
