Beautiful Bhajan by Sonu Nigam

Shri Anup Jalota - ऎसि लागी लगन मीरा हो गयी मगन

Shri Ram Stuti

Planet Venus The Goddess of Love and Beauty



I got up for my early morning walk. It was still dark. A jewel shone brightly amongst the star studded sky. I knew it was Venus (Shukra Tara). It is also referred as morning and evening star. Venus has been known from prehistoric times. Venus is named after the Roman goddess of Love and Beauty. It was considered as the most beautiful and most bright shining(except for the Sun and the Moon) among the other planets then discovered.

Planet Venus is closest to Earth. It is also known as the sister planet of our Earth, due to similarities in their mass volume and densities. The astronomers were of the opinion that Life might exist on Venus too!.

Probes are being launched on Venus. Detailed study revealed that Venus nowhere resembles our Earth. It is the least hospitable place for life in the Solar System.

Venus is covered by dense thick clouds not water vapors but sulphuric acid. Due to the thick dense clouds the astronomers could not access the study of the surface ofVenus. But with the help of Radar Telescope and Imaging System orbiting the planet Venus it was possible to see through the clouds the surface of Venus. The temperature of the surface is very very hot 482 degrees Celcius (900degrees F) hot enough to melt Lead. Its atmosphere consist mostly of Carbon dioxide. Its atmospheric pressure is 90 times that of Earth. It is hotter than Planet Murcury which is closer to Sun. This high temperature is caused by the runaway greenhouse effect. It so happens that the sunlight passing through the atmosphere heats the surface . The radiated heat from the surface eventually gets trapped by the dense sulphuric acid clouds surrounding the planet. This heat cannot escape into the space. The infrared radiation moves up causing increase in the temperature.

To measure this infrared radiation , the astronomers launched a probe Pioneer Venus. It needed a sturdy window that was transparent to infrared radiation. A Diamond 13.5karat was imported and milled in the window of the probe… It is said that the trader who supplied the Diamond had to pay tax of $12,000 as import duty. The Pioneer Venus mission was successful . But the Diamond damaged and was of no use on Earth so the trader was given the compensation.( refer..Cosmos). Imagine the heat on Venus. It is really hellish. Its rotation is retrogate, from east to west.  From Vesus we see the Sun rises in the West and sets in the East.  A Venusian day is 243 Earth days and it is longer than its year of 225 days.



After the discovery of the Telescope it was possible to spot Venus periodically passing across the face of the Sun. The first transition was observed in 1631, 1639. Then 1761, 1769. 1874, 1882. More than a century separating these pairs. On 8th June 2004 astronomers worldwide saw the transit of Venus dot crawling over the Sun. The pair will occur on 6th June 2012.


The latest news about Venus Probe Akatsuki (meaning dawn) by the Japanease astronomers (JAXA)Japanese Exploration Agency failed to enter Venus Orbit. It was sent for detailed study of theVenus’ clouds ,atmosphere and weather. But, they hope to try again. Another orbital insertion burns when the probe returns to Venus in six years. At present it is orbiting the Sun instead of its intended Venusian orbit.The Probe will come close enough to make another attempt in the late 2016 or early 2017. We wish them good luck next time.




My above article got published in The Hitavada dt 6/3/2011.
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