NASA Probe Captures First Images of Venus’ Surface in Visible Light

NASA recorded the first-ever images of Venus’s surface. The space agency’s Parker Solar Probe captured the radiating glow of the planet’s clouds, offering a glimpse of the composition of the planet.

NASA used the Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probe (WISPR) instrument to look close underneath Venus’s atmosphere, assessing the geographic features on the planet.

“Venus is the third brightest thing in the sky, but until recently we have not had much information on what the surface looked like because our view of it is blocked by a thick atmosphere,” said astrophysicist and WISPR team member Brian Wood.

“Now, we finally are seeing the surface in visible wavelengths for the first time from space.”

WISPR images of Venus shed light on the planet’s evolution

The new WISPR images will aid scientists understanding of the actual geological and mineral composition of Venus. The planet is famous for its bright glow–its materials shine at different wavelengths. Scientists will assess these new images and old ones to observe Venus in a wide variety of wavelengths.

“We’re thrilled with the science insights Parker Solar Probe has provided thus far,” said Nicola Fox, division director for the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. “Parker continues to outperform our expectations, and we are excited that these novel observations taken during our gravity assist maneuver can help advance Venus research in unexpected ways.”

Scientists are also using this new data to understand Venus’s evolution. Venus formed contemporaneously to Earth and Mars, but the results of their evolution are vastly different Mars’s atmosphere is only a fraction of Earth’s while Venus’s is thicker than both of them.

“By studying the surface and atmosphere of Venus, we hope the upcoming missions will help scientists understand the evolution of Venus and what was responsible for making Venus inhospitable today,” said Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. “While both DAVINCI and VERITAS will use primarily near-infrared imaging, Parker’s results have shown the value of imaging a wide range of wavelengths.”

NASA set to launch rocket from Mars

NASA will work with Lockheed Martin Space to build what they call a “Mars Ascent Vehicle” to launch samples from the surface of the Red Planet back to Earth.

The Mars Ascent Vehicle, known as the MAV, is a small rocket that will launch sediment, rock, and atmospheric samples, becoming the first rocket launched from another planet back to Earth.

The MAV is a key element of NASA’s Perseverance Rover campaign and will be instrumental for delivering samples collected by Perseverance back to Earth for closer study.

“This groundbreaking endeavor is destined to inspire the world when the first robotic round-trip mission retrieves a sample from another planet – a significant step that will ultimately help send the first astronauts to Mars,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. “America’s investment in our Mars Sample Return program will fulfill a top priority planetary science goal and demonstrate our commitment to global partnerships, ensuring NASA remains a leader in exploration and discovery.”