Japanese Weather Satellites Uncover New Insights on Venus' Atmosphere

What's Happening?

Japanese weather satellites Himawari-8 and Himawari-9, originally designed to monitor Earth's climate, have inadvertently collected valuable data on Venus over the past decade. Researchers, led by Gaku Nishiyama from the German Aerospace Center, have utilized these satellites as space telescopes to analyze Venus' atmospheric dynamics. The satellites have provided one of the longest multiband infrared records of Venus, revealing changes in cloud-top temperatures and phenomena such as thermal tides and Rossby waves. These findings challenge the calibration of instruments on dedicated Venus spacecraft, like Japan's Akatsuki orbiter.

Why It's Important?

The accidental discovery by the Himawari satellites offers a new perspective on Venus' atmospheric dynamics, filling gaps left by dedicated planetary missions. This data is crucial for understanding Venus' climate and could lead to improved calibration of instruments on future missions. The findings also highlight the potential of Earth-observing satellites to contribute to planetary science, providing continuous data even when specific planetary missions are not active. This could enhance our understanding of planetary atmospheres and inform future exploration strategies.

What's Next?

The research team plans to continue analyzing data from other solar-system bodies captured by the Himawari satellites. This ongoing work could further expand knowledge in planetary science and improve the calibration of instruments on future missions. The team hopes to complement data from missions like Akatsuki and BepiColombo, providing a broader range of infrared observations and longer monitoring timescales.