ESA’s Venus Express – Astronomy Now

Laboratory experiments suggest Venus may still be volcanically active

5 January 2020 Astronomy Now

It’s no secret that hellish Venus has been resurfaced by extensive lava flows, but new research indicates it may be volcanically active to this today.

Recently active lava flows from volcano Idunn Mons on Venus

19 October 2016 Astronomy Now

Planetary researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have pushed the limits of the data resolution from ESA’s Venus Express spacecraft. With this new technique, analysis of the top and eastern flank of 200-kilometre-wide volcano Idunn Mons in the southern hemisphere of Venus revealed an indication of geologically recent volcanism in this area.

What lies beneath – Venus’ surface revealed through the clouds

18 July 2016 Astronomy Now

Using observations from ESA’s Venus Express satellite, scientists have shown for the first time how weather patterns seen in Venus’ thick cloud layers are directly linked to the topography of the surface below. Rather than acting as a barrier to our observations, Venus’ clouds may offer insight into what lies beneath.

Swansong experiment sheds light on Venus’ polar atmosphere

19 April 2016 Astronomy Now

Some of the final results sent back by ESA’s Venus Express before it plummeted down through the planet’s atmosphere have revealed it to be rippling with atmospheric waves and, at an average temperature of -157 °C, colder than anywhere on Earth. The aerobraking experiment has improved our knowledge of our planetary neighbour and holds great promise for ESA’s forthcoming ExoMars mission.