Mysterious surprise discovered in Venus’s atmosphere rings like a bell.
Mysterious surprise discovered in Venus’s atmosphere rings like a bell.
Astronomers have discovered a mysterious surprise in the atmosphere of Venus: massive concentric rings surrounding most of the planet’s dayside, but only visible through polarized light, as if Venus is ringing like a bell.
This exceptional observation came during a brief 36-minute monitoring session on a clear evening in 2010, using an experimental instrument known as the “Extreme Polarimeter” (ExPo). It was designed by scientist Michiel Rodenhuis during his PhD studies at the Utrecht Astronomical Institute and mounted on the William Herschel Telescope in the Canary Islands.
Unlike a regular camera, the instrument only recorded polarized light, which forms when light scatters off gas and dust, revealing fine atmospheric details that remain hidden without this method, according to ScienceAlert.
Researchers did not discover this phenomenon until months after the observation, when the instrument had already been dismantled. The team spent years trying to disprove the signal, initially suspecting a technical glitch. However, the signal withstood every test, according to the study published in The Planetary Science Journal.
Atmospheric physicist Gaurav Mahapatra from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, the lead author of the study, says the team eventually decided to publish the data as is, clearly stating its limitations, rather than waiting for proof that cannot be achieved from a one-time observation.
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By 2017, additional evidence emerged when the Japanese probe Akatsuki observed a wave spanning from pole to pole in Venus’s atmosphere, proving the planet’s ability to generate planet-scale waves. Through computer simulations, Mahapatra found that density variations of 5 to 10 percent, caused by atmospheric gravity waves, could produce polarization rings similar to those observed.
The mystery of Venus’s “super-rotation”
If these results are confirmed, they could help solve the mystery of Venus’s “super-rotation,” where clouds circle the planet in just four Earth days, even though the planet itself takes 243 days to rotate once.
The team hopes these findings will encourage other researchers to point new generations of polarimeters at Venus, to either confirm or deny the existence of these mysterious rings.
Venus (Planet)
Venus is the second planet from the Sun in our solar system and is known for being similar to Earth in size and mass, making it a focus for scientific study of potential habitability. Named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, it is characterized by a thick atmosphere that causes a runaway greenhouse effect.
Zahra (City)
Zahra is an ancient city located in the Dhamar Governorate of Yemen, considered one of the oldest historical cities in the region. Its history dates back to ancient times, when it was an important center of ancient Yemeni civilization. It is known for its archaeological landmarks, such as the remains of old palaces and mosques, reflecting its rich cultural history.
Utrecht Astronomical Institute
The Utrecht Astronomical Institute is a center for astronomical research and education located in the Netherlands, founded in the 19th century. It played an important role in the development of Dutch astronomy, contributing to notable studies in solar physics and astrophysics. Over time, the institute was a reference point for international researchers, and today it is part of Utrecht University.
William Herschel Telescope
The William Herschel Telescope is an astronomical observatory located in the Canary Islands, Spain, which was built in the 1980s and named after the famous British astronomer William Herschel. With a primary mirror 4.2 meters in diameter, it was one of the largest optical telescopes in the world at its inauguration. Over time, it has contributed significantly to discoveries related to distant galaxies and star formation.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, characterized by their mild climate and beautiful beaches. Their history dates back to ancient times, inhabited by the indigenous Guanches, before being conquered by the Spanish in the 15th century AD. The islands became a global tourist destination thanks to their diverse nature and rich cultural heritage.
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands, founded in 1842 as a Royal Academy for Engineering. Located in the city of Delft, it is considered one of the most prominent academic institutions in Europe in the fields of engineering and applied sciences.
Akatsuki (Probe)
Akatsuki, also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter, is a Japanese space probe launched by JAXA in 2010 to study the atmosphere of Venus. After a failed initial orbit insertion, it successfully entered orbit around Venus in 2015. Its mission is to investigate the planet’s weather patterns, atmospheric dynamics, and the mysterious super-rotation phenomenon.
