Question

Each of the following gives a statement that a future explorer might someday make. In each case, decide whether the claim seems plausible in light of current knowledge. Explain clearly; because not all of these have definitive answers, your explanation is more important than your chosen answer. Each of the following gives a statement that a future explorer might someday make. In each case, decide whether the claim seems plausible in light of current knowledge. Explain clearly; because not all of these have definitive answers, your explanation is more important than your chosen answer. was part of the first group of people to land on Venus, where we found huge, ancient cities that had been hidden from view by cloud cover.

Short answer

The claim seems implausible given current knowledge and technological capabilities.

Step-by-step solution

Evaluate the Atmosphere

Venus has a very thick, toxic atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide with clouds of sulfuric acid, making detailed surface observation from space challenging.

Surface Scanning with Current Technology

Despite the cloud cover, radar mapping technology, like that used by the Magellan spacecraft, has extensively mapped Venus's surface, revealing mostly volcanic landscapes without evidence of large cities.

Consider Historical and Geographical Context

There's no current scientific evidence or historical context suggesting that Venus ever had conditions capable of supporting life as we know it, let alone harboring ancient cities.

Key concepts

Venus Atmosphere

Understanding Venus's atmosphere is crucial when considering the possibilities of extraterrestrial exploration. The atmosphere of Venus is extremely thick and composed mainly of carbon dioxide. In fact, it is about 96.5% carbon dioxide, which is quite different from Earth's atmosphere. This results in a runaway greenhouse effect, leading to surface temperatures that can reach up to 467°C (872°F).
Venus's atmosphere also contains clouds made of sulfuric acid. These dense clouds reflect sunlight (making Venus exceptionally bright in our sky), but they also hinder detailed observation of the planet's surface from space. The atmospheric pressure on Venus is about 92 times that of Earth's, which would crush any unprotected human or spacecraft landed on the surface.
Such extreme conditions raise important considerations for any proposed exploration missions. Before any successful landings, explorers need to overcome these environmental challenges. This makes the possibility of finding ancient cities as described in the exercise unlikely, given that such structures would need to withstand extreme pressures and corrosive conditions.

Radar Mapping Technology

Radar mapping technology plays a pivotal role in exploring planets with thick atmospheres like Venus. Traditional optical imaging techniques fail to penetrate the dense cloud cover of Venus, necessitating the use of radar technology to explore its surface. Radar works by bouncing radio waves off the surface of a planet and then analyzing the reflected signals.
One of the most famous missions to Venus that used radar mapping was NASA's Magellan spacecraft. Launched in 1989, Magellan utilized synthetic aperture radar to map the surface of Venus from 1990 through 1994. This technology provided detailed images, revealing Venus's surface to consist largely of volcanic landscapes, mountains, and vast plains, but no signs of cities or similar structures.

• Advantages of radar include penetrating thick clouds or darkness, making it ideal for planets like Venus.
• It provides critical data on topographic features, which are essential for our understanding of Venus's geologic history and assessing lander missions' potential landing sites.

Thus, while radar mapping has revealed much about Venus's geography, it has not provided any evidence supporting the existence of ancient cities beneath the clouds.

Historical Context of Venus

When considering the historical context of Venus, scientists have searched for evidence regarding its geological and atmospheric evolution. Venus is often called Earth’s "sister planet" due to their similar size and composition, but there are significant differences in their histories.
It is believed that Venus may have once had liquid water on its surface billions of years ago, but this is speculative and lacks definite evidence. The current conditions make it inhospitable. Studies suggest that Venus has experienced a dramatic atmospheric transformation, leading to its current state dominated by greenhouse gases. This has been a topic of study in contrast to understand why Earth remains habitable while Venus's surface is so harsh.
When evaluating the idea of ancient cities on Venus, it’s essential to note that there is no scientific evidence indicating that the planet could have supported life as we know it. The long-standing volcanic activity observed on its surface points more to a history of geological turmoil than to a civilization-building environment.

• No signs of past water stability required for life.
• Lack of tectonic or biological markers indicating ancient life or civilization.

Considering these factors, the possibility of hidden ancient cities on Venus remains highly improbable based on our current scientific understanding.