Hold onto your space helmets, folks! 🚀 NASA has just revealed that Venus, our scorching-hot neighbor, wasn't always as quiet as we thought. By diving into data from the Magellan mission, scientists have spotted not one, but two volcanic eruptions that rocked Venus in the early 1990s. Talk about a fiery throwback! 🔥
Magellan, which cruised around Venus from 1990 to 1992, managed to map a whopping 98% of the planet's surface. Even though the mission wrapped up decades ago, the treasure trove of data it collected is still giving us major planetary gossip. 📡🛰️
But here's where it gets even juicier. In 2023, researchers took a fresh look at Magellan's radar images and noticed something surprising near the massive volcano Maat Mons. They found changes in a volcanic vent that could only mean one thing: recent volcanic activity! 🌋 Seeing these changes over time showed that molten rock was oozing out from beneath the surface, filling up craters, and spilling down slopes. Sounds like Venus was having its own lava party! 🥳
Magellan wasn't just a one-hit wonder either. Launched in May 1989, this superstar spacecraft was the first to snap images of Venus's entire surface. And get this—even as it made its grand finale by diving into Venus's atmosphere and burning up in 1994, Magellan was still sending back valuable info. Talk about dedication! 💫
So, why does this matter? Well, studying active volcanoes helps scientists understand how a planet's insides can shape its surface, influence its evolution, and even affect whether it could support life. 🌍🔬 The discovery of recent volcanic action on Venus gives us a sneak peek into its history and clues about why it turned out so differently from Earth. Pretty mind-blowing, right? 🤯
This cosmic revelation not only ignites our curiosity but also reminds us that there's so much more to learn about our planetary neighbors. Who knows what other secrets are waiting to be uncovered? The universe is full of surprises! 🌌✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
