Mars and Venus: surprising similarities

Mars and Venus are still thought to be very different, but there are more similarities than people think. Two nearly identical spacecraft fly around Mars and Venus compare their atmospheres and discover their surprising similarities.

Two Mars Express spacecraft and Venus Express are currently orbiting the two planets that collect their atmospheric data when exposed to solar radiation. Data show that charged molecules from the gas layer around both planets are being lost due to storms and solar winds.

David Brain, planetary scientist at the University of California, Berkeley and supporter for Venus Express, said: ' Mars and Venus are very different. Venus's atmosphere is thick, dry and hot while Mars is thin and cold. However, similar processes are happening on both planets . '

Both Mars and Venus have about 95% carbon dioxide. Currently most of the earth's atmosphere is nitrogen but scientists think it was quite similar to other ice-filled planets.

Since both of our neighboring planets do not have a protective magnetic field, the solar wind can come in direct contact with both planets' atmosphere. Solar radiation provides energy for atmospheric molecules so that they can accelerate and escape the planet. Earth avoids solar radiation thanks to a protective bridge.

Brain said: 'These results really emphasize how special the earth is and we are fortunate to be protected by the magnetic field of the earth.'

By analyzing the valuable data of the spacecraft, scientists hope to know how the two planets' climate has changed and compare their evolution to the earth's atmosphere. Brain said: 'We really want to know why the Earth is different from Mars, Venus, why the inner planets are different from the outer planets. As a scientist, it's surprising to have similar figures on two planets at the same time. '

In December 2006, a solar storm released the molecules of electric molecules. Mars and Venus are attacked by radiation that causes molecules of the atmosphere to collect energy and escape them. Mars lost atmospheric molecules 10 times faster than normal.

Brain said: 'I still think that solar storms are like tsunamis in the atmosphere of the planets. It has high intensity and hinders many of our devices. We are fortunate to be in the position of observers but these storms are not good for the atmosphere at all. '