New Analysis Reveals Dynamic Volcanism on Venus

As it sped away from Venus, NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft captured this seemingly peaceful view of the planet, nearly the size of Earth, wrapped in a dense, global cloud layer, on Feb. 7, 1974. JPL-Caltech via Reuters

WASHINGTON—A fresh analysis of radar images obtained more than three decades ago has yielded new evidence indicating Venus, Earth’s planetary next-door neighbor, is currently volcanically active—a dynamic world with eruptions and lava flows.

Researchers said on Wednesday radar images taken by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft showed that a volcanic vent about a mile (1.6 km) wide on the Venusian surface expanded and changed shape over an eight-month span in 1991. The vent is situated on Maat Mons, which at about 5 miles (9 km) tall is the planet’s highest volcano and second-highest mountain.