Astronomy Picture of the Day 9-29-02

NASA ^ | 9-29-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 September 29

Venus: Just Passing By
Credit: Galileo Project, JPL, NASA

Explanation: Venus, the second closest planet to the Sun, is a popular way-point for spacecraft headed for the gas giant planets in the outer reaches of the solar system. Why visit Venus first? Using a "gravity assist " maneuver, spacecraft can swing by planets and gain energy during their brief encounter saving fuel for use at the end of their long interplanetary voyage. This colorized image of Venus was recorded by the Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft shortly after its gravity assist flyby of Venus in February of 1990. Galileo's glimpse of the veiled planet shows structure in swirling sulfuric acid clouds. The bright area is sunlight glinting off the upper cloud deck. A recent intriguing but controversial hypothesis holds that living microbes might exist in the upper clouds of Venus.

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Fun Fact:

At 35 miles above the Venusian surface, the temperature is around 160 degrees F, and the pressure is about 1 Earth atmosphere. However, the clouds are full of sulfuric acid. Nasty! Kind of like your car battery. Except that the water in the Venusian clouds - what there is - is composed of tiny droplets. I'd be surprised if any form of life could possibly survive in such conditions.

[petuniasevan]

[MeekOneGOP]

APOD bump!

[terilyn]

Win one for the Gipper! God Bless You Reagan, We Will Never Forget Your Great Service and Leadership - We here on FR will carry on your great work with diligence. Thanks for the Memories and Inspiration!

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[RightWhale]

any form of life could possibly survive in such conditions

The forms that coexist with us might find that environment less than ideal. However, there are many forms of bacteria that live in other conditions thought of as hostile to life. For example, there are bacteria deep inside the rock of earth. Some scientists expect to find bacteria deep inside the rock of most or all planets everywhere in the galaxy. Clouds of bacteria in the extreme upper atmosphere have been suggested as a possibility for earth, and now for Venus. There might be some kind of theoretical debate going on about the origins of life that could be resolved if we get out there and explore a little more.

[BossyRoofer]

I wonder at times if man is truly qualified to say they can recognize life! We spend so much of our life in destruction of it! But I will keep my heart open to the stars in hope that I can see it as GODS love. Good job APOD!