A new study shows that Venus would be tidally bound to the Sun if Earth's famous evil twin didn't have a thick, poisonous atmosphere to keep it spinning.
The researchers made such a claim in a study titled "Atmospheric dynamics of a near tidally locked Earth-sized planet."
The planets Jupiter (L), Venus (C) and Mercury (R) are seen in an unusual conjunction setting over the Wupatki pueblo ruin on May 24, 2013 at Wupatki National Monument north of Flagstaff, Arizona.
Venus Atmosphere Explained
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and, coincidentally, the Earth's nearest neighbor. Venus is a terrestrial, rocky planet called "Earth's Twin" because its size and structure are similar to our planet. According to Interesting Engineering, it is one of the so-called "inner four" planets.
Despite this, Venus is very different from Earth in many aspects. In fact, "evil twin" could be a better description.
The first and most obvious distinction is Venus' atmosphere, which is considerably thicker than Earth's and very hazardous to life.
Carbon dioxide levels on Venus are far greater than on Earth, with over 95 percent of the atmosphere made up of sulfuric acid, and the planet is permanently blanketed in a thick, yellow-colored cloud. The combination of 543 gases and the planet's increased closeness to the Sun has resulted in a "runaway greenhouse effect," as it is known.
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Why Venus Has Such an Evil Atmosphere
Inverse suggests that atmospheric tidal waves are to blame for Venus's atmosphere rotating at a significantly faster rate than the planet in low altitudes. These tidal waves are caused by the Sun's heating of the planet's dayside in contrast to the planet's cooler nightside temperatures.
However, the planet, named for the Roman goddess of love and beauty, hides many more secrets behind its thick clouds. The atmosphere of Venus moves at a rate of roughly 200 meters per second, which is 60 times faster than the planet's spin.
This Venusian atmospheric wave accelerates the spinning of the planet's atmosphere at low altitudes, causing it to rotate far faster than the planet itself.
According to a statement released by the University of California - Riverside, heat is caused by virtually all of the Sun's energy absorbed by Venus' atmosphere, never reaching the planet's surface. This implies that a rover equipped with solar panels, such as the one NASA deployed to Mars, would be unable to function.
The atmosphere of Venus also prevents the Sun's energy from leaving the planet, preventing cooling or liquid water from forming on its surface, a condition known as a runaway greenhouse effect.
It's uncertain if being partially tidally locked adds to this runaway greenhouse state, which eventually leaves a planet inhospitable for life as we know it.
The majority of planets anticipated to be viewed by the James Webb Space Telescope, which was just launched, are extremely near to their stars, even closer than Venus is to the Sun. As a result, they're more than likely to be tidally locked.
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