Venus

Latest about Venus

Venus is swathed in a thick atmosphere that is difficult for scientists to peer through.

How long is a day on Venus? It's always changing, new study reveals

By Meghan Bartels published

Astronomers have long struggled to pin down how long a day lasts on Venus, but new research suggests the difficulty stems not from flawed measurements but from real variations in the planet's spin.

Venus
A comparison of Venus and Earth.

Ancient Earth had a thick, toxic atmosphere like Venus — until it cooled off and became liveable

By Antony Burnham, Hugh O'Neill published

Earth is the only planet we know contains life. Is our planet special?

Venus
A view of Venus from NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft based on data captured in 1974.India is now planning to launch its own Venus orbiter in 2024.

India to launch Shukrayaan Venus mission in 2024 after pandemic delays: reports

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

India plans to launch a new orbiter to Venus a year later than planned in 2024, according to media reports, although the country's space agency hasn't published an update to its website yet.

Venus
The European-Japanese BepiColombo Mercury mission captured this view of the planet Venus during a flyby on Oct. 15, 2020, its first of two by the planet on the mission's way to orbit Mercury.

Watch Venus glide by in this serene video from the BepiColombo spacecraft's flyby

By Chelsea Gohd published

A European-Japanese spacecraft just flew by Venus on its long, winding road to Mercury, snapping some stellar photos along the way.

Venus
The European-Japanese BepiColombo Mercury mission captured this view of the planet Venus during a flyby on Oct. 15, 2020, its first of two by the planet on the mission's way to orbit Mercury.

BepiColombo spacecraft swings past Venus on long road to Mercury

By Meghan Bartels published

It's a long, looping journey from Earth through the inner solar system to reach Mercury, but scenery can make any circuitous trip more exciting.

Venus
An artist's depiction of a Venus rock hitting the moon.

Pieces of Venus may be hiding on the moon

By Meghan Bartels published

The moon may be hiding the scientific key to the mysterious past of our neighboring world, Venus.

Venus
A NASA illustration shows the Pioneer 13 probes descending toward the clouds of Venus.

Did NASA detect a hint of life on Venus in 1978 and not realize it?

By Rafi Letzter published

What if scientists had started hunting for life on Venus in 1978?

Venus
simulation of the surface of Venus, with the Northern Hemisphere displayed

'Grand claims' of life on Venus lack evidence, skeptics say

By Adam Mann published

A roundup of the various pushback and criticisms to the claim that there could be life on Venus

Venus
A computer-simulated view of the northern hemisphere of Venus.

Meet Calypso, a daredevil mission concept to explore the surface of Venus

By Paul Sutter published

Of all the rocky, inner worlds of the solar system, Venus is the most challenging to explore.

Venus
An artist's depiction of a fleet of probes approaching Venus.

After a tantalizing discovery at Venus, what could an astrobiology mission look like?

By Meghan Bartels published

Suddenly, a mission to investigate whether Venus might be hospitable to life after all doesn't seem quite so outlandish.

Venus
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