Astronomy Journal Entry

Spacecraft Goes Into Orbit Around Venus (April 12, 2006)

The Venus Express spacecraft went into orbit around Venus this week. The probe will gather data about the atmosphere, climate, and geology of Earth's nearest neighbor.

The probe was launched by the European Space Agency (ESA). It's the first spacecraft to visit Venus since NASA's Magellan probe launched in 1989. It reached the planet after a five-month journey.

The spacecraft got right down to work, sending back a set of photos of the swirling clouds around Venus' south pole. Pale yellow clouds that contain sulfuric acid spiral around a darker vortex over the pole.

The probe is equipped with seven state-of-the-art instruments that will help scientists learn more about our planetary neighbor. It has spectrometers that will measure temperature and analyze the planet's atmosphere. Its cameras will zero in on Venus' many volcanoes and other interesting surface features.

Scientists hope to gather clues about the intense greenhouse effect on Venus. The planet's atmosphere is nearly 90 times denser than Earth's and traps enormous amounts of solar heat. This heat raises the planet's surface temperature to 864 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest of any planet. This is hot enough to melt lead.

Venus is similar in mass and density to Earth. Both planets have inner cores of rock that probably formed at about the same time in the history of the solar system. But Venus' atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide with only tiny amounts of water vapor.