Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Akatsuki study different layers of Venus’s atmosphere?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Venus
Venus photographed in ultraviolet light by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (Pioneer 12) spacecraft, February 26, 1979. Although Venus's cloud cover is nearly featureless in visible light, ultraviolet imaging reveals distinctive structure and pattern, including global-scale V-shaped bands that open toward the west (left). Added color in the image emulates Venus's yellow-white appearance to the eye.
The Japanese Akatsuki space probe studied the various layers of the Venus atmosphere using a suite of five specialized cameras. These instruments included:12
- Three infrared cameras: Designed to observe different depths within the atmosphere.12
- One ultraviolet camera: Used to monitor atmospheric features.12
- One visible-light camera: Provided additional imaging capabilities.12
Together, these cameras allowed scientists to examine the atmosphere at varying depths, ranging from the cloud tops down to the planet's surface. Additionally, researchers on Earth analyzed slight variations in the frequency of the probe's radio signals to study the ionosphere of Venus.1