The Lomonossov arc: refraction and scattering in Venus atmosphere during solar transits

The Venus Tablet and Refraction

Photochemistry of the Venus Atmosphere

Carbon monoxide, produced in the Venus atmosphere by photolysis of C02, is removed mainly by reaction with OH. The radical OH is formed in part by photolysis of H 20., in part by reaction of 0 with H02 • Photolysis of HCl provides a major source of H radicals near the visible clouds of Venus and plays a major role in the overall photochemistry. The mixing ratio of 0 2 is estimated to be approxi...

Venus lower atmosphere heat balance

Pioneer Venus observations of temperatures and radiative fluxes are examined in an attempt to understand the thermal balance of the lower atmosphere. If all observations are correct and the probe sites are typical of the planet, the second law of thermodynamics requires that the bulk of the lower atmosphere heating must come from a source other than direct sunlight or a thermally driven atmosph...

The Venus Ionosphere and Solar Wind Interaction

The current state of knowledge of the chemistry, dynamics and energetics of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere of Venus is reviewed together with the nature of the solar wind-Venus interaction. Because of the weak, though perhaps not negligible, intrinsic magnetic field of Venus, the mutual effects between these regions are probably strong and unique in the solar system. The ability of the Pio...

Twilight phenomena in the atmosphere of Venus during the 2004 inferior conjunction

Twilight phenomena of Venus are peculiar aspects visible in proximity of the inferior conjunctions of the planet. They include the refraction image of the Sun that has been observed during the planet transits, and the cusp extensions observable at greater elongations. Those two phenomena have deeply different origins, the first being ascribed to refraction, the second to scattering by a thin la...