ESA - Venus Express - Key molecule discovered in Venus’s atmosphere

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Key molecule discovered in Venus’s atmosphere

15 May 2008

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Hydroxyl detected in the Venusian atmosphere

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Hydroxyl, an important but difficult-to-detect molecule, is made up of a hydrogen and oxygen atom each. It has been found in the upper reaches of the Venusian atmosphere, some 100 km above the surface, by Venus Express’s Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer, VIRTIS.

Credits: ESA (Image by C. Carreau)

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Venus Express is studying largely unknown phenomena in the Venusian atmosphere like never before. Its suite of instruments is also digging into the interaction between the solar wind and the planetary environment. In addition, the mission is gathering glimpses of the planet's surface, which is strictly coupled with its dense atmosphere.

Credits: ESA (Image by AOES Medialab)

Looking at Venus

ESApod: Venus Express

Two years of spying on Earth’s twin planet Venus Express reboots the search for active volcanoes on Venus The puzzling 'eye of a hurricane' on Venus Mars and Venus are surprisingly similar The light and dark of Venus Venus Express seeks out gases below the clouds Christmas greetings from Venus – with a new educational film Venus: Earth’s twin planet?ESA to present the latest Venus Express results to the media

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