Phosphine detected in Venus's atmosphere (IMAGE)

ESO

Phosphine detected in Venus's atmosphere

Caption

This artistic impression depicts our Solar System neighbour Venus, where scientists have confirmed the detection of phosphine molecules, a representation of which is shown in the inset. The molecules were detected in the Venusian high clouds in data from the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, in which ESO is a partner. Astronomers have speculated for decades that life could exist in Venus's high clouds. The detection of phosphine could point to such extra-terrestrial "aerial" life.

Credit

ESO/M. Kornmesser/L. Calçada & NASA/JPL/Caltech

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