Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Venus' Varied Cloud Patterns

Venus' Varied Cloud Patterns
Venus' Varied Cloud Patterns Venus’ multilayered atmosphere abounds with fascinating cloud patterns. TOP LEFT: An ultraviolet image taken by Venus Express’ VMC on 10 May 2010 shows gravity waves in Venus’ upper clouds—ripples along surfaces where atmospheric density changes with altitude. TOP RIGHT: Akatsuki's IR2 imaged well-developed vortices within Venus’ lowermost clouds just south of the equator on 13 August 2016. BOTTOM LEFT: This is the highest-resolution image of stationary waves in Venus’ nightside upper clouds, taken by Venus Express’ VIRTIS on 7 May 2008. BOTTOM RIGHT: On 1 July 2016, Akatsuki’s IR2 saw sharp, dark stripes edging the nightside lower clouds for distances of thousands of kilometers. These are some of the longest cloud patterns ever spotted on Venus. Top left: ESA; bottom left: ESA/VIRTIS/INAF-IASF/Obs. de Paris-LESIA; both right: JAXA/ISAS/DARTS