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Radar Data Reveals Cavernous Underground Lava Tube on Venus
Researchers analyzed decades-old radar data to detect a ~1 km wide lava tube beneath Venus’ Nyx Mons, providing new insights into its volcanic activity and geology.
- On Feb. 9, University of Trento researchers published in Nature Communications a reanalysis of NASA's Magellan radar images identifying what may be the second reported lava tube on Venus.
- Using a newly developed radar-analysis method, the team applied a recently developed data-analysis technique targeting skylight-like collapses, validating it with Earth radar data from Lanzarote, Spain and Hawaii, United States.
- Measured dimensions reveal a pit roughly 1,545 by 1,070 meters with a depth about 525 meters, internal height at least 375 meters, and roof thickness around 150 meters.
- The discovery strengthens arguments that Venus remains geologically active, and it provides targets for European Space Agency's EnVision and NASA's VERITAS missions with advanced radar and subsurface instruments.
- Because Magellan's data are about 30 years old with a resolution of about 75 meters per pixel, only the confirmed portion near the skylight can currently be seen, and future higher-resolution radar observations and missions will be needed to test whether the conduit extends for at least 45 kilometers.
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35 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources35
Leaning Left4Leaning Right5Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Center
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
47% Center
L 24%
C 47%
R 29%
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