They have no idea why it’s happening, but scientists have been recording faster-than usual winds on Venus.
They have no idea why it’s happening, but scientists have been recording faster-than usual winds on Venus.
The winds are typically hurricane-strength, but between 2006 and 2012 they increased by around 35 percent and are clocking at nearly 250 miles per hour.
Add that to its 800 or so degree temps, and you’ve got yourself one unpleasant place to be, which is probably why – unlike Mars - nobody’s planning to go there.
The planet has been given its own exploration orbiter, complements of Europe. It’s called the Venus Express and was launched from Kazakhstan in 2005.
Images taken by it are what were used to calculate the increase in wind strength.
Venus has tricky surroundings to begin with. Once every 4 days – that’s Earth days - its “super-rotating atmosphere” travels around the planet once. That phenomenon is considered to be one of the solar systems great mysteries.
The planet also has a fairly mind-bending calendar as its days are longer than its years. A regular day on Venus, or how long it takes to rotate, is equal to 243 Earth days. While its year takes around 225 Earth days to revolve around the sun.
