- Researchers at the University of California have proposed a new theory explaining why Venus lacks a moon, attributing it to the planet's exceptionally slow rotation.
- According to the study published in The Astrophysical Journal , any ancient satellite would have spiralled inwards and eventually been consumed by Venus.
- Computer simulations indicated that hypothetical Venusian moons of various sizes would all have collapsed into the mother planet within its first billion years.
- Unlike Earth, whose fast 24-hour rotation pushes its moon further away, Venus takes 243 Earth days to complete a single rotation, pulling satellites downwards.
- Scientists anticipate learning more about Venus through upcoming NASA missions, DAVINCI+ and VERITAS, scheduled for launch around the late 2020s or early 2030s.
IN FULL
Astrophysicist may have solved the mystery of why Venus doesn’t have a moon
