While hard facts, such as Venus' circumference, diameter, and distance from the sun are relatively easy to determine, historical and future implications of the planet and its study are not as simple to calculate. Two of the most important facts that we don't yet know about the planet Venus are the significance of its historical positioning and its implications for earth's atmospheric problems.
According to Ev Cochrane's study into the ancient solar system, the regularity with which the system now moves around the sun is a "recent development." In the ancient world, instead, Cochrane suggests that observers noted a different type of solar system. The discrepancies between the two solar systems has largely to do with the planet Venus. According to Cochrane, Venus' movement into its current orbit was recent, and this movement created solar side effects that may be important to the current development of the solar system. While Cochrane's theory may be incorrect, one of the most important facts that we don't know about Venus and much of the solar system are the facts about its evolution. In order to learn more about Venus and its role in the solar system, astronomers should carefully compare its placement in the current solar system with that of the ancient solar systems drawn and witnessed by classic philosophers and astronomers.
In addition to Venus' historical positioning, a fact that may have implications for the current position of Venus and the solar system, we do not know enough about Venus' atmosphere to use it to draw conclusions about Earth's atmosphere. What we do know about the atmospheres of both planets, however, is that C02 is an important element. For Earth, C02 has begun to cause major problems in the ozone layer and in terms of greenhouse gasses and global warming. For Venus, C02 makes up most of its atmosphere. In fact, the reason that Venus reaches such high temperatures is because of the "
Additionally, by studying Venus, researchers hope to determine both the highest levels of C02 and highest temperatures that can sustain human life and the "future habitability" or earth as the sun grows warmer and C02 in the atmosphere continues to rise. A 2010 Japanese mission was scheduled to investigate these questions. ("Missions to Venus," "Japan Plans").
Thus, while scientists know a great deal about the planet Venus, they remain still unaware of the more abstract implications of the planet's status. By learning more about the planet's historical position and the atmospheric quality as compared with Earth's, Venus' importance as a planet can be understood.
Conclusion
Although Venus has maintained a position in mythology and religion as a rather mysterious planet, scientific research has suggested that quite a bit is actually known about the planet. The questions that still remain to be answered by Venus, however, allow the planet to retain some if its mystery.
Works Cited
Cochrane, Ev. "The Many Faces of Venus: The Planet Venus in Ancient Myth and Religion." n.d. Aeon Journal. 12 August 2008. Aeon Journal. http://www.aeonjournal.com/venus.htm.
Japan Plans 2007 Mission to Venus." 2 May 2001. NASA. 12 August 2008. NASA. http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/news/expandnews.cfm?id=805.
Missions to Venus." 2008. The Planetary Society. 12 August 2008. The Planetary
Society. http://www.planetary.org/explore/topics/venus/missions.html.
Ratcliffe, Martin and Talcotte, Richard. "Venus rules the Twilight Skies."
Astronomy. 35.12 (2007): XII.
Robinson, Leif J. "50 & 25 Years Ago." Sky & Telescope. 115.1 (2008): 20.
Schaaf, Fred. "Planetary Parade." Sky & Telescope. 115.3 (2008): 58-60.
Siegfried, Tom. "Tuning in to Science." Science News. 172. 25/26 (2007): 404.
Wood, David a. "Venus." 2008. San Antonio College Astronomy Department
August 2008. http://www.accd.edu/sac/astro/wood/common/planets/venus.htm.
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