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back to article NASA spots first evidence of an active volcano on Venus – in a big pile of CD-ROMs

Astronomers have uncovered the first evidence of an active volcano on Venus, using computer images captured more than 30 years ago by a NASA spacecraft. Launched in May 1989, the Magellan probe became the first of its kind to image almost the entire surface of Venus (like, 98 percent) using radar. The spacecraft no longer …

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  1. Flak
    Go

    Old data new tricks

    Really love to see stories like this where archive data is warmed up to provide new insights.

    Next step is to let some AI loose on those images and solve the 'different aspect' challenge to allow comparison and perhaps even highlight changes - I am sure there must be an app for that! :-)

    12 2 Reply
    1. Primus Secundus Tertius
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      Re: Old data new tricks

      No, not AI. This is new stuff, totally unsuited for AI which only regurgitates old stuff.

      12 0 Reply
      1. Brian 3
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        Re: Old data new tricks

        No, that's not right. Sometimes AI just shoots from the hip (the back side of the hip!) and goes full fabrication, here's your steaming fresh analysis!

        3 0 Reply
  2. Sceptic Tank Silver badge
    Big Brother

    In Vino Veritas

    Let's just hope that it's not a case of a watched volcano never erupts.

    So why doesn't Venus have a magnetic field?

    4 0 Reply
    1. james 68
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      Re: In Vino Veritas

      It does, however it's not an internally generated magnetic field like Earth (much lower iron content in the core) but externally generated by the ionosphere interacting with the solar wind and is much weaker.

      It's interesting stuff.

      3 0 Reply
      1. the spectacularly refined chap Silver badge
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        Re: In Vino Veritas

        Bulk composition of Venus is essentially similar to Earth, including a nickel/iron core. Venus's slightly lower density is explained by lower gravitational compression as opposed to chemical makeup.

        If you really knew why Venus lacks a global magnetic field a Nobel prize would surely be on its way, because noone really knows for sure. Current thinking is that it is ultimately down to elevated temperatures boiling off all the water. That means it can't be subducted under the surface, and in turn shuts down any system of plate tectonics through lack of lubrication. That traps heat inside the planet and ultimately stops convection within the core. No convection = no magnetic field.

        Like I said, it's speculative and little more than a best guess, but it's the one preferred at this moment in time. I recall hearing of a proposal to put seismometers on the Venusian surface, that is challenging given the conditions but potentially a goer with the right equipment. If memory serves that was a proposal submitted at the same time as what ultimately became Messenger.

        3 0 Reply
        1. Boris the Cockroach Silver badge
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          Boffin

          Re: In Vino Veritas

          Its more likely its due to the slow rate of Venus' rotation thats doing it, even a slight difference in speed between the earth's inner core/outer core/rest of the planet is enough to cause a large amount of magnetic field to be generated, but since venus rotates every 243 days, then its a good bet that all the planet goes around at that speed and theres no speed difference to generate the field needed.

          3 0 Reply
        2. M.V. Lipvig Silver badge
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          Re: In Vino Veritas

          The answer is no moon. The moon pulls on the Earth's molten core, causing it to spin at a different speed than the solid portion of the core. The speed difference generates the field, just like a giant motor generates a magnetic field. Venus, no moon, no magnetic field. Earth, rather large moon, strong magnetic field. Mars, no moon, no magnetic field.

          0 0 Reply
          1. the spectacularly refined chap Silver badge
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            Re: In Vino Veritas

            It doesn't work given the evidence available though. We know the liquid portion spins at the same rate as the surface due to the existence of the South Atlantic Anomaly, where convection currents are the "wrong" way round causing a localised weakness in the magnetic field. Equally we know the solid core turns at the same rate as the liquid one since the existence of fern-like crystal structures growing from the solid core, aligned with the magnetic field, are inferred from speed differences in seismic waves north-south and across the equator.

            Theory has to fit the available evidence, and the current consensus is that it's down to plate tectonics. I do not claim to be an expert in these matters so I trust them.

            0 0 Reply
  3. herman Silver badge
    Flame

    Volcanic gasmosphere

    I always thought that the Venusian atmosphere appears to be pure volcanic gas.

    1 0 Reply
  4. Francis Boyle

    "NASA employs some of the greatest minds to come up with cool acronyms"

    So they're recruiting here? Time to brush up my resume.

    5 0 Reply

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