Venus, often referred to as Earth’s twin due to its similar size and composition, may still be geologically active. Researchers have long been intrigued by the planet’s unique surface features, including massive circular formations known as coronae.
New research based on data collected over 30 years ago by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft suggests that these features are signs of a planet still alive with geological activity. Unlike Earth, where giant plates of crust shift and recycle through plate tectonics, Venus does not have moving plates. However, its surface is being reshaped – likely by molten rock rising from deep within the planet.
Coronae, massive oval-shaped formations that can span hundreds of miles, are thought to form when hot, buoyant material from Venus’ interior pushes upward, distorting the surface. Surrounding each corona is a system of fractures that hints at powerful forces beneath. Researchers have identified hundreds of these features across the planet.
A new study published in Science Advances reveals fresh evidence that many coronae are still being shaped by underground forces. The findings come from NASA’s Magellan mission, which orbited Venus in the early 1990s and delivered detailed maps of the planet’s surface and gravity field.
Researchers believe that coronae may have existed when Earth was young and before plate tectonics had been established. By combining gravity and topography data, this research provides a new insight into possible subsurface processes currently shaping the surface of Venus.
The researchers also found evidence for subduction, lithospheric dripping, and volcanism driven by molten rock beneath the thicker part of the lithosphere. These tectonic processes may still be active on Venus today.
The VERITAS mission, set to launch no earlier than 2031, aims to deliver a comprehensive picture of Venus’ geology and internal structure with unprecedented detail. The spacecraft will carry a synthetic aperture radar to generate high-resolution maps of the planet’s surface, as well as a near-infrared spectrometer to analyze its surface chemistry.
VERITAS promises to revolutionize our understanding of Earth’s sister planet by investigating its surface composition, topography, and internal structure in ways that were previously impossible.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/nasa-just-found-new-signs-of-life-inside-venus-geologic-life-that-is