Venus has a dense atmosphere That Prevents or hinders much observation and study of Their surface, But thanks to a special detector for the Venus Express spacecraft, in orbit Which Is There Since 2006, We Have That Obtained records show, But Still with Some degree of Uncertainty, Which Is Still planet volcanically active. In only two teddies solar system, Earth and Jupiter's moon Io, volcanism has Been Observed today.

Three-dimensional view of volcanic Mount Maat Mons, Venus, made with the radar of NASA's Magellan spacecraft - NASA

Drawing of the Venus Express spacecraft, the European Space Agency, Neighboring planet in orbit

Thanks to information sent by the probe from the European Space Agency (ESA), scientists Have Identified nine hot spots on the planet, "Hawaii-like areas with volcanic activity," they said in the journal Science. In three of These hot spots (areas with magma chambers in the basement), There are solidified lava flows emit Abnormally Large Amounts of heat Regarding the Issuance of Their environment.

"We Estimate That Less Than These flows are 2.5 million years and Probably much less, about 250.000 years Including," I added. "In geological Terms, This Means That [the lava flows] are Virtually present," said Joern Hulbert, one of the researchers. Among the hot spots, the two regions Themes and Dione, with Increases of 0.5 and 2.5 km respectively are the best candidates to Have active volcanism.

Venus and Earth Formed about 4.500 million years, But Differently evolved to the Extent That the form you have an atmosphere, composer Mainly of carbon dioxide, Which causes Powerful greenhouse gas, with surface temperature enough to melt. "The geological history of Venus has Always Been a mystery. Spacecraft record Provided us evidence of volcanism, But Did not know how long ago, now we Have Whereas evidence of Recent eruptions," says Sue Smrekar, a researcher at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( California) and team leader of the research.

The Truth Is That Were Raised scientists long ago, something would be smoothing the Venusians surface, Because There Are A Few Thousand only Caused by meteorite impact craters, a comparable figure with the low marks on Other Solar System Bodies. Volcanoes are a good explanation, for renewing the surface eruptions. In Addition, areas of lava flows are low Especially eroded.

On board the Venus Express, an elliptical orbit Which FOLLOWS around the planet Neighbors about 300 kilometers to the surface, a sensor is installed Which Is What Was Used in this investigation Since Allows it to see the Venusians surface-through the dense atmosphere and record the patterns of infrared radiation. This spectrometer Virtues (Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer), Which Is Allowing to map the thermal emission of Venus.