The American probe Parker Solar Probe took the first pictures of Venus in the visible spectrum

The American NASA Parker Solar Probe probe was created specifically to study the Sun, but, despite this, it was this device that made the first photographs of Venus in the visible spectrum, using a special apparatus (WISPR) for this purpose for wide-angle formation images. It is about this unique event that will be discussed in this material.

Surface features of Venus captured by the Parker Solar Probe (left) match those captured by the Magellan mission (right), NASA/APL/NRL (left), Magellan Team/JPL/USGS (right).

Venus and its first images in the visible spectrum

Venus is one of the most mysterious and interesting planets. After all, it is so similar to the Earth that some scientists call Venus the twin of our Earth.

The fact that the first interplanetary spacecraft was sent to Venus clearly speaks of the interest of scientists in Venus.

The mystery of the second planet from the Sun is added by the fact that its surface is reliably hidden from observers by dense clouds. And the only images of the planet's surface were obtained by Soviet vehicles of the "Venus" type.

It was possible to obtain information about the relief of the planet and create the first global maps only in the 1990s during the NASA mission Magellan, and the JAXA Akatsuki spacecraft was able to image the surface using infrared cameras.

But I repeat, until now, the only images of Venus in the visible spectrum have been frames obtained precisely by Soviet devices back in the 1970s.

The situation in this regard changed only in July 2020. It was at this time that the Parker Solar Probe was performing its third flyby of Venus as part of the perform a gravity maneuver in order to acquire high speed and get as close to Sun.

So during this flyby, scientists also managed to “in passing” study Venus using WISPR.

So, the scientists decided to point WISPR at the clouds of Venus and try to determine their speed, but, to the surprise of the scientists, they managed to get an image of the planet's surface.

In fact, the accidental discovery inspired scientists so much that NASA decided to repeat the study attempt already during the fourth flyby of the probe around Venus.

Images taken by the WISPR Parker Solar Probe during the flyby. NASA/NPL/NRL

The fourth attempt to capture the surface of Venus was presented in February 2021. It was then that the Parker Solar Probe was able to capture the night side of the planet.

So, as B. Wood, lead author of the new study and Naval Research Laboratory physicist, surface Venus, even on the night side, is a rather hot place, heated up to 460 degrees Celsius.

And in fact, the WISPR complex still managed to see the surface through the clouds not only in the infrared range, but also in the band of the spectrum, quite visible to the human eye, only practically at the very red end of the spectrum, which is already turning into infrared range.

As a result, scientists were able to build an image that exactly matched previously compiled radar maps.

The resulting images not only impressed scientists, but also have a high practical value. After all, different materials glow at different wavelengths, and the collected data can be further be used to study in more detail the geology of the surface of Venus, as well as to study its evolution in in general.

Well, let's wait for new data from scientists. In the meantime, if you liked the material, then do not forget to subscribe to the channel so as not to miss new releases of materials.

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