Despite being similar sizes, Earth (right half) and Venus (left half) have different surface conditions, a fact that has implications in the search for an Earth-like exoplanet. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ames
Source: [astrobio.net]
In order to weed out Venus-like planets from those that would be more habitable, scientists proposed the establishment of a “Venus zone” around stars, a region where the atmosphere could be consumed by a runaway greenhouse effect that super-heats its planets. So far, the team of scientists has identified 43 potential Venus analogs, and think that even more exist.
One of the researchers, Stephen Kane of San Francisco State University, recently spoke with Astrobiology Magazine about how to define a “Venus zone” and the prospects of finding an exo-Venus.
The study was supported in part by the NASA Astrobiology Institute’s Virtual Planetary Laboratory. The results were presented at the January meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, Washington, and published in the journal, Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Additional links:
Interview with co-author Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman (astrobio.net)