Venus is often called Earth’s sister planet.
Yet, due to a massive CO2 greenhouse atmosphere, Venus’ scorching surface temperature of 700 K means no life could ever survive at the surface. No life of any kind could exist on the Venusian surface. Venus does have an impressive, permanent cloud deck, stretching for over 20 km in vertical height. This cloud deck is high in the atmosphere where temperatures are not too hot, not too cold, but just right for life. Scientists have speculated for over half a century that the cloud decks of Venus could host life. Some people associate the mysterious high-altitude ultraviolet absorber and presence of phosphine gas in Venus’ atmosphere with life.
A golden age of Venus exploration lies ahead.
