After many years of preparation, the NASA Parker Solar Probe finally captures a bunch of photos of Venus' surface. Images show that even on the dark side of the planet, its surface was still hot enough to glow!

The Parker Solar Probe is a spacecraft launched in August 2018 which was designed to study the Sun's atmosphere. According to a previous report here on iTech Post, this probe regularly orbits between Venus and the Sun during its investigations.

Parker Solar Probe Captures Venus Photos

According to NBC News, one of the probe's flybys of Venus happened in July 2020. Scientists were shocked to discover that the probe managed to observe the clouds on Venus' surface. Even better, the probe saw past the clouds and captured the planet's surface. This prompted researchers to repeat the incident.

So when the spacecraft passed by Venus again last February, astronomers pointed the probe's camera to the dark side of the planet. The photos captured during the event led to an exciting new discovery.

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The Dark Side of Venus: NASA Photos

According to Brian Wood, a physicist at the Naval Research Laboratory, "the surface of Venus, even on the nightside, is about 860 degrees. It's so hot that the rocky surface of Venus is visibly glowing, like a piece of iron pulled from a forge," per CNN.

The researcher also explained that the probe's photos contained a few more clues about Venus' surface. Its photo showed dark patches which indicate cooler and higher altitude regions. These colors would stand out from the lighter sections of the photo, which indicates hotter lowlands.

It should be emphasized that until recently, researchers do not have much information about Venus' surface. This is because the planet is constantly obscured by its thick and hot atmosphere.

Lastly, researchers also discovered a bright ring around the planet, which they speculate is an "airglow." This is a halo of light caused by oxygen atoms. Wood concluded that "the images and video just blew me away."

Many researchers anticipate the potential of this discovery. They note that this could be another step closer to understanding the planet's hot temperatures and environment. They also point out that through the use of Parker Solar Probe, they can observe the planet through visible wavelengths.

Incoming Space Explorations for Venus

Note that this is only one of the many space missions related to the study of Venus. According to NBC News, there could be many other upcoming missions for the planet.

One such mission is NASA's DAVINCI+, which aims to descend on the planet to analyze its chemistry, temperature, and surface. This space mission is scheduled to launch sometime in 2029.

Another similar endeavor is the European Space Agency's EnVision mission, which aims to collect gas samples from the planet. This space mission is scheduled to launch sometime in 2030.

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