For the first time a hydroxyl molecule was found on another planet, this was made possible with the help of the advanced instruments of Venus Express and it reveals more secrets that are hidden under the compressed atmosphere of Venus
Hydroxyl is a molecule composed of hydrogen and oxygen (HO or OH), although it is difficult to locate, Venus Express found it in the atmosphere of Venus at an altitude of 100 km. The discovery was made possible with the help of the VIRTIS instrument that can see through clouds at infrared frequencies.
Scientists believe that hydroxyl is a molecule that plays an important role in the atmosphere because it is a reactive molecule. On Earth, hydroxyl plays a central role in purifying the atmosphere from pollution, and it is assumed that in the atmosphere of Mars, hydroxyl stabilizes the carbon dioxide (CO2) and prevents it from turning into carbon monoxide (CO). Hydroxyl also disinfects the Martian soil, making the top layer of the soil hostile to living microbes.
Because the atmosphere of Venus was not properly studied until the Venus Express mission, scientists do not know if their models are correct. The measurements made by Venus Express allow the researchers to correct the models and introduce additional parameters that were not taken into account or were not known before. The discovery of hydroxyl proves how little we knew about Venus.
On Earth, the glow of hydroxyl in the atmosphere is related to the abundance of ozone (O3). According to the current study, researchers will be able to measure the degree of aurora and estimate the amount of ozone in the atmosphere of Venus. Venus Express found that there are varying amounts of hydroxyl in different areas of the atmosphere, the change reaches about 50% and is due to different amounts of ozone.
Ozone is also an important molecule in the composition of the atmosphere since it absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. On Earth, the ozone layer absorbs solar radiation, heats the stratosphere and protects the biosphere from harmful radiation. On Venus, it will be possible to use tangible models to analyze the information collected and examine the effect of varying amounts of ozone on the structure and composition of the atmosphere.
Venus Express managed to reveal a lot of information about Venus, the scientists learned that the similarity between Venus and the Earth is greater than initially assumed, the discovery of hydroxyl continues the trend and the researchers promise that they will continue to surprise us with more discoveries as they land more information from the observations of the spacecraft.
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For some reason every time we talk about Venus and Mars we are told that the temperature there does not allow life because of the atmosphere... but the truth is that the temperature on Venus is hundreds of degrees mainly because of the proximity to the sun.
The greenhouse gases created there also contribute to the high temperature, but even if they are completely eliminated, Naga will remain a hot hell that does not allow life.
Mars is also frozen for the same reason - the distance from the sun, and even if they cover it with clouds like Venus, it will remain frozen.
The earth happens to be at such a distance from the sun that it allows the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere the delicate balance it is in between ice ages and global warming. If all the greenhouse gases were removed from the earth's atmosphere it would freeze completely and not allow life.
As an expert on the complex subject, I do not believe that we will be able to sustain life, since the physiological composition of the atmospheric composition does not allow the hydroxyl findings, necessarily the nitrogen, oxygen and water in a combination of running after contact with water and nitrogen combined oxide of CU oxides will not allow the evidence of the minimal position in relation to Mars , and in response to Nimrod, you see that you do not understand anything on the subject, when it is not possible to create vegetation for approximately 150-200 years, and since the chemical conditions do not allow this, and if so, it is only after the placement of the physical chemicals, of the conditions of the asorgic greenhouse. So if you don't have anything correct, happy to write, please - no!
In principle, it is possible to change the composition of the atmosphere and even regulate the temperature prevailing in the star, but this requires a large number of years and even to create vegetation and all the other necessary things there, around 150-200 years according to what I have heard from scientists, there is no doubt that this requires a huge investment But can give a huge profit in the end, after all in the end in order to find a planet compatible with an earth you have to invest a fortune of resources and I still haven't talked about reaching this destination or even traveling back and forth there, so a rather crazy theory of changing planets is a bit wild but can be effective.
While I doubt we'll be able to colonize Venus, I'm not ruling it out, who thought we'd ever say to the moon?
Since its atmosphere is toxic, the logical assumption is that we will colonize Mars first. On the other hand, Venus is an earthly planet similar to the Earth and Mars, who knows what our great-great-grandchildren will do...
I also have no idea why I wrote Mars, anyway I meant Venus.
Nimrod
It's about Venus!
A very interesting discovery, changes the picture a little about the atmosphere of Mars, maybe even one day we will be able to settle Mars after all kinds of adjustments.
All in all, Mars and Earth are very close and it is possible that there are more common factors between them since their formation.