Volcanic activity on Venus

Research professor Robert Herrick with a Venus globe in his office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks West Ridge Research Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Research professor Robert Herrick with a Venus globe in his office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks West Ridge Research Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Image is a colored 3D perspective view of Venus’ Maat Mons. Image by David P. Anderson, SMU/NASA science photo library
Image is a colored 3D perspective view of Venus’ Maat Mons. Image by David P. Anderson, SMU/NASA science photo library
Research professor Robert Herrick with a Venus globe in his office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks West Ridge Research Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Research professor Robert Herrick with a Venus globe in his office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks West Ridge Research Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Image is a colored 3D perspective view of Venus’ Maat Mons. Image by David P. Anderson, SMU/NASA science photo library
Image is a colored 3D perspective view of Venus’ Maat Mons. Image by David P. Anderson, SMU/NASA science photo library
Research professor Robert Herrick with a Venus globe in his office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks West Ridge Research Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Research professor Robert Herrick with a Venus globe in his office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks West Ridge Research Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Image is a colored 3D perspective view of Venus’ Maat Mons. Image by David P. Anderson, SMU/NASA science photo library
Image is a colored 3D perspective view of Venus’ Maat Mons. Image by David P. Anderson, SMU/NASA science photo library

Volcanic activity on Venus

March 14, 2023 / Rod Boyce

Geophysical Institute research professor Robbie Herrick will present his Venus volcanism research Wednesday, March 15, at the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, underway this week in Texas.

Herrick, working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is providing the first direct evidence that volcanic eruptions are occurring on present-day Venus.

Herrick and others involved in the research will be holding a press conference at 10 a.m. Alaska time Wednesday. The associated research paper is being published that day in the journal Science.

A link to watch the press conference is available at the conference press events website.

The research is based on new analysis of radar images from NASA’s Magellan mission. The analysis shows a vent associated with Venus’ massive Maat Mons volcano that changed over an eight-month period between orbiter imaging opportunities.

Herrick and colleagues will discuss the results and what they mean for our understanding of Venus and the upcoming operations of the NASA VERITAS and ESA EnVision missions.

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