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Lightning on Venus C016 / 8916
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Lightning on Venus C016 / 8916
Artwork of lightning striking the surface of Venus. In the 1970s, the Russian Venera 11 and 12 probes detected lightning. The European Space Agencys Venus Express, in 2006-2007, recorded lightning in the high atmosphere of Venus. The lightning rate on Venus is about half that of Earth. This is the hottest planetary surface in the solar system, with temperatures of nearly 500 degrees Celsius (730 degrees Kelvin). This is due to its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere that traps the Suns heat in a runaway greenhouse effect. The surface atmospheric pressure is around 90 times that on Earth. Clouds of sulphuric acid obscure the Sun and the rest of the sky. Venus is the second planet from the Sun, next in from Earth and around two-thirds of the distance at about 108 million kilometres from the Sun. It is regarded as a sister planet to Earth because of its similar size, gravity and mass
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This print titled "Lightning on Venus C016 / 8916" showcases a stunning artwork capturing the mesmerizing sight of lightning striking the surface of Venus. In the 1970s, Russian Venera 11 and 12 probes first detected lightning on this enigmatic planet. Later, in 2006-2007, the European Space Agency's Venus Express recorded lightning in its high atmosphere. Surprisingly, despite being known as Earth's sister planet due to its similar size and gravity, Venus experiences only half the rate of lightning compared to our own planet. Venus is renowned for having the hottest planetary surface within our solar system, with temperatures soaring close to a scorching 500 degrees Celsius (730 degrees Kelvin). This extreme heat is a result of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere that traps the Sun's heat through a runaway greenhouse effect. Additionally, atmospheric pressure on Venus is approximately 90 times greater than that on Earth. The image reveals an otherworldly landscape obscured by clouds composed of sulphuric acid that shroud both the Sun and sky above. The rocky topography adds to its mystique while molten-like formations hint at intense geological activity beneath its surface. Situated as the second planet from our Sun at around two-thirds of Earth's distance (approximately 108 million kilometers), Venus continues to captivate astronomers and space enthusiasts alike with its unique characteristics and intriguing phenomena like forked lightning dancing across its turbulent skies.
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