The mysterious planet, according to NASA, is Venus.
Venus has earned the moniker "the mysterious planet" due to several unique characteristics that set it apart from other celestial bodies in our solar system. Despite being Earth's nearest planetary neighbor, Venus presents many baffling scientific questions.
Here's a breakdown of why Venus is considered mysterious:
- Atmospheric Enigmas: Venus possesses a thick, toxic atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide with clouds of sulfuric acid. This creates an intense greenhouse effect, making it the hottest planet in our solar system, even hotter than Mercury, which is closer to the Sun.
- Surface Conditions: The surface of Venus is obscured by its dense atmosphere, making direct observation difficult. Its surface is incredibly hot with crushing atmospheric pressure, making it a challenging environment to explore.
- Retrograde Rotation: Unlike most planets in our solar system, Venus rotates on its axis in a retrograde direction (east to west) and has a very slow rotation, with a day lasting longer than its year.
Reference:
Venus: The Mysterious Planet - NASA Science
NASA and other space agencies are constantly exploring Venus to understand its mysteries. Future missions will try to unlock these puzzles to understand why Venus is so different from Earth.
