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Mysterious Bright Spot Appears on Venus

Scientists suspect volcanic eruption

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 1, 2009 10:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – Astronomers are puzzling over a strange white spot that recently appeared in the clouds of Venus, the BBC reports. The European Space Agency’s Venus Express spacecraft confirmed the spot, originally noticed by an amateur stargazer on July 19. Data suggests it appeared 4 days before that and has been steadily expanding since.

Scientists aren’t sure what caused the spot, though they suspect volcanic activity. It’s long been theorized that the planet was resurfaced by such activity, and some believe the eruptions are still occurring. But it would take an extremely powerful eruption to penetrate so high into the atmosphere. Other possibilities include charged particles from the sun interacting with the planet’s atmosphere, or atmospheric turbulence bringing bright material together.

Venus, in a file photo from 2007.
Venus, in a file photo from 2007.   (AP Photo/ESA/NASA/HO)
The planet Venus after being eclipsed  by crescent moon, seen in Amman, Jordan, Monday, June 18, 2007.
The planet Venus after being eclipsed by crescent moon, seen in Amman, Jordan, Monday, June 18, 2007.   (AP Photo/ Nader Daoud)
Venus
Venus
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
Fondue
Aug 2, 2009 12:38 PM CDT
cognitive filter? sure...whatever
TiredMemeCat
Aug 2, 2009 12:34 PM CDT
No, it just has a GOP / Big Oil approved atmosphere.
Circusdog
Aug 2, 2009 6:13 AM CDT
Anyone read Stephen Baxter?

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