Probe “Akatsuki” received amazing photos of Venus

The Japanese Space Agency unveiled a new batch of scientific data obtained by the Akatsuki probe last year, including a large number of very high-quality and beautiful photographs of Venus. This is what Damia Boutique, an astronomer and famous space promoter, writes.

“JAXA recently published data collected by Akatsuki over the past year. I took the pictures taken by the ultraviolet camera of the probe in two different wavelengths, combined and colored them. The result was a kind of “colored” photos of Venus, where you can see subtle details in the structure of its atmosphere, ”explained Bouick.

The Akatsuki probe, launched in May 2010, was supposed to start exploring the secrets of the atmosphere of Venus in December 2010, but it flew past the planet because of problems with the engines. Five years later, when Akatsuki returned to Venus, making a circle around the Sun, the engineers were able to slow down the probe and bring it to a stable orbit around the planet, actually resurrecting the mission, which was already considered lost.

Over the next three years, the Japanese apparatus managed to get a lot of information on the structure of the atmosphere of Venus, its climate and its other secrets. For example, he managed to find hints that life, if it exists on the “morning star,” can hide in its “acidic” clouds, and also explain the mystery of the irregular length of the day on the “sister” of the Earth.

As scientists had originally suggested, the Japanese probe was supposed to work in the orbit of Venus for about two years. It has already exceeded their expectations, and the current fuel reserves and the general state of the spacecraft allow us to hope that Akatsuki will be able to live for several more years.

Recently, Akatsuki transmitted to the Earth a new batch of scientific data and images taken by its ultraviolet camera while observing the atmosphere of Venus.

Using pictures in which you can see how carbon dioxide, sulfuric acid and other gases are distributed through the air of the “morning star”, Buik painted these photographs, making the second planet of the solar system less “monochrome” than it looks in reality.

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Sean

I seem to be seeing craters on the surface. Is that correct?
I thought that was not possible because of the dense clouds.
How far away is this spacecraft from Venus? And is it’s camera good
enough to spot craters from that distance? And the ability to see thru clouds?
Thanks for your response.
Bye
SC

Matt

No it would not be possible to see craters, and there are very few on Venus even if you could see through the clouds.

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