The first images of Venus’s surface in visible light were captured by the Parker Solar Probe.
The planet’s surface is typically obscured by thick clouds, but the probe recently used its Wide-Field Imager (WISPR) to capture images of Venus’ nightside at wavelengths that the human eye can see.
Lead researcher Brian Wood, a physicist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, said: “Up until recently, we did not have much information on what the surface of Venus looked like because our view of it is obscured by a thick atmosphere. Venus is the third brightest object in the sky. Finally, we are now able to observe the surface from space in visible wavelengths.
When the Parker Solar Probe made its third flyby of Venus in July 2020 to shift its orbit closer to the Sun, it took the first of these pictures. With the ability to discern fine detail in the solar atmosphere, scientists chose to study the Venusian clouds, but they were surprised to also find the entire nightside of the planet.
Since WISPR also records specific infrared wavelengths, which the planet emits because of its unusually hot surface, which is approximately 860 degrees Fahrenheit even at night, the camera was able to capture a faint glow coming from the planet.
At NASA Headquarters, Nicola Fox, division director for the Heliophysics Division, said: “We’re happy with the science insights Parker Solar Probe has so far delivered. We are thrilled that these fresh observations made during our gravity assist maneuver might help progress the Venus study in unanticipated ways as Parker continues to perform above our expectations.
