Yale astronomers investigate the possibility of pieces of Venus on the moon

[Judi Lynn]

The scientists’ work offers new insights into recent theories that indicate that Venus could have had an atmosphere similar to that of Earth billions of years ago, before it acquired its current atmosphere.

MARIA ANTONIA SENDAS & ALEXANDRA GALLOWAY 10:31 PM, OCT 26, 2020

CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS

Yale astronomers Samuel Cabot GRD ’24 and professor Gregory Laughlin published a study last month in the Planetary Science Journal which investigates a theory suggesting that pieces of Venus may have crashed into the moon.

Cabot and Laughlin’s research offers new insights into recent theories that indicate that Venus could have had an atmosphere similar to that of Earth billions of years ago, before it acquired its current atmosphere, which is dense with carbon dioxide and contains clouds of sulfuric acid. The researchers found that asteroids and comets that crashed into Venus may have dislodged as many as 10 billion rocks, sending them into orbit and causing them to intersect with the Earth and the moon.

“If Venus once had a thin atmosphere,” said Cabot, a graduate student in the Yale Department of Astronomy and the lead author of the study, “then we’d expect to find a certain amount of Venus fragments on the moon.”

The investigation began as Cabot’s one-year project, in which first-year graduate students in the astronomy department are paired with an advisor, conduct research on an area of interest to them and explore the diversity of research opportunities in astronomy. Students have access to a wide range of resources to support their research, including supercomputers and observational tools such as telescopes.

More:
https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2020/10/26/yale-astronomers-investigate-the-possibility-of-pieces-of-venus-on-the-moon/

[Sherman A1]

1. WOW

So cool 😎