Contains:  Solar system body or event
Venus Nightside on August 30th, 2023, Ethan Chappel
Venus Nightside on August 30th, 2023, Ethan Chappel

Venus Nightside on August 30th, 2023

Acquisition type: Lucky imaging

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Description

Venus is known for its thick, opaque clouds permanently hiding the surface from view and trapping heat in its atmosphere. However, some of the infrared glow of the surface on the nightside is able to escape into space and be detected from Earth. The clouds are semitransparent to light with wavelengths around 1010nm, well outside the visible range of 400-700nm. Using an infrared sensitive camera and a special filter to block most of the light reflected off the dayside reveals the glowing hot surface of Earth's twin. It is possible to also see areas higher in elevation, which appear as darker spots since they are cooler and glow less than the lower and hotter areas.

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