Hold onto your space helmets, explorers! NASA just cracked a 30-year-old cosmic mystery: Venus—Earth’s scorching sibling—had active volcanic eruptions in the early 1990s. Using data from the Magellan mission, scientists spotted two volcanoes spewing molten rock, proving the planet isn’t just a lifeless hellscape. Talk about glow-ups!
Launched in 1989, the Magellan spacecraft mapped 98% of Venus’ surface, creating our most detailed view of its fiery terrain. By comparing radar images, researchers noticed changes around Maat Mons, a massive volcano near Venus’ equator. Molten lava had filled its crater and spilled down the slopes—like a celestial espresso machine gone wild.
Why does this matter? Active volcanoes help scientists understand how planets evolve. Venus and Earth were once twins, but their paths diverged. This discovery might explain why Venus became a toxic inferno while we got… TikTok and avocados.
Next time you gaze at the night sky, remember: Venus is still geologically alive, and NASA’s vintage data is rewriting textbooks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com