ESA Science & Technology - First detection of hydroxyl in the atmosphere of Venus

Publication date: 20 May 2008

Authors: Piccioni, G., et al.

Journal: Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume: 483
Page: L29-L33
Year: 2008

Copyright: ESO

We report measurements of night-side airglow emission in the atmosphere of Venus in the OH (2-0), OH (1-0), O2(a-X) (0-1), and O2(a-X) (0-0) bands. This is the first detection of the first three of these airglow emissions on another planet. These observations provide the most direct observational constraints to date on H, OH, and O3, key species in the chemistry of Venus' upper atmosphere. (This is an abbreviated abstract from the paper "First detection of hydroxyl in the atmosphere of Venus", by Piccioni et al, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, A&A 483, L29-L33 (2008))