Evidence of Active Volcano on Earth's Twin

• 22 Mar 2023

Recently, a new study has found direct geological evidence of recent volcanic activity on Venus (also known as Earth’s twin) for the first time.

• Researchers analysed archival radar images taken by NASA's Magellan spacecraft between 1990 and 1992 and observed a volcanic vent changing its shape and getting bigger in size in around eight months.
• The vent is situated on the north side of a domed shield volcano that is part of the larger Maat Mons volcano, in the planet's AtlaRegio area.
• The change in the vent's shape and size indicated an eruption or flow of magma beneath the vent.
• The discovery challenges previous assumptions that volcanic activity on Venus might occur thousands of years apart.
• The new findings take scientists a step further to understand the geological conditions of not just Venus but also other exoplanets.
• As volcanoes act like windows to provide information about a planet's interior, the discovery provides insight into the planet's interior.
• In the next decade, three new Venus missions would be launched, including the European EnVision orbiter and NASA's DAVINCI and VERITAS missions.