Phosphine detected in Venus's atmosphere
This artistic impression depicts our Solar System neighbour Venus, where scientists have confirmed the detection of phosphine molecules, a representation of which is shown in the inset. The molecules were detected in the Venusian high clouds in data from the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, in which ESO is a partner.
Astronomers have speculated for decades that life could exist in Venus’s high clouds. The detection of phosphine could point to such extra-terrestrial “aerial” life.
Credit:ESO/M. Kornmesser/L. Calçada & NASA/JPL/Caltech
About the Image
Id: | eso2015a |
Type: | Artwork |
Release date: | 14 September 2020, 17:00 |
Related releases: | eso2015 |
Size: | 7680 x 4320 px |
About the Object
Name: | Venus |
Type: | Solar System : Planet : Feature : Atmosphere |
Category: | Illustrations Solar System |