A recently combat-ready orbit of lava flows has been found on Venus , cause researchers to marvel if our neighboring satellite is n’t sincerely dead after all . According to theAmerican Astronomical Society(AAS ) and the German Aerospace Center ( DLR ) , it was espy on the top and eastern wing of a vent namedIdunn Mons , a monolithic building 200 kilometre ( 124 miles ) across .
The outside group of researchers mapped Venus ’ southern hemisphere in unprecedented item by peering through the thick atmosphere using infrared and mellow - resolve radiolocation data from NASA ’s Magellan mission in the early’90s and the European Space Agency ’s ( ESA ) recent Venus Express mission . They quickly spotted the five vernal lava flows on the volcano , fitly named after a Norse goddess of youth .
The menstruation were yield off a comparatively high amount of thermal energy , indicating it was still “ blistering . ” Although it ’s potential that it could have erupted in the prompt past – which would signify that Venus is still an combat-ready world – the squad behind the find are remaining cautious .
An elevation model of Idunn Mons , with the red segments indicative of late volcanic bodily process . NASA / JPL - Caltech / ESA
Piero D’Incecco , a planetary researcher at DLR involved in the enquiry , say in astatementthat the lava flows “ might have been recently combat-ready in full term of geologic prison term , ” imply that it could have erupted as far back as a million years or so . However , many will belike see this as more evidence that , through its duncish carbon dioxide envelope , this orange - hued planet isstill extravasate fresh lava .
Back in 2015 , ESA announce that it had recognise four “ hotspots ” on Venus along rupture zones , evoke that they were potential to symbolise fresh lava menstruation . Although not directly imaged , the team at the timenotedthat this was “ the most tantalizing evidence yet for active volcanism . ” This new discovery is potential to total further fuel to the fire .
Lava flows on Venus are severely weird , and these new ones are no exception to this . Lacking any sort of run form of plate tectonics , the magma within this hellish reality is intermittently forced up to the open in plume , seem through little venthole and fissures .
When it does break through , the immense atmospheric press squashes them flavourless , so they fan out out in near - perfect circles – call off “ pancake domes . ” you’re able to also regain curious lava flow known as arachnoids – lava effusions that spread out linearly in multiple directions that resemble spindly spider leg .
Although many volcanoes are technically shield vent likeHawaii ’s Kilauea , the ones on Venus are far large , being incredibly brusk but hundreds – almost thousands – of kilometre wide . Despite there being roughly 1,600 discrete volcano on Venus , however , they are most potential all extinct – no active lava flows have been by all odds identified .
This new research come close , but it ’s not quite the smoke gun researchers are looking for .
range of a function in text : an arachnoid volcanic feature on Venus . Jeff Q./NASA
Several perfectly rotary flapcake volcanoes on Venus . NASA / JPL
