Possible Signs of Life on the Planet Venus
Author(s)
Leonid V. Ksanfomality*
ABSTRACT
It is possible, the question on the existence of extraterrestrial life will be answered not as a result of its search for in other worlds removed by distances of dozens of parsecs but on the surface of Venus, i.e., of the nearest planet of the Solar system. The search for “habitable zones” in extrasolar planetary systems is based on the postulate on “normal” physical conditions, i.e., the pressure, temperature, and maybe atmospheric composition similar to those on Earth. But could not such an approach be a kind of “terrestrial chauvinism”? Considering the conditions on Venus as a possible analogue of physical conditions on low-orbiting exoplanets of the “super-Earths” type, a new analysis of Venusian surface panoramas’ details has been made. These images were produced by the VENERA landers in 1975 and 1982. A few relatively large objects were found with size ranging from a decimeter to half meter and with unusual morphology. The objects were observed in some images, but were absent in the other or altered their shape. The article presents the obtained results and analyzes the evidence of reality of these objects.
Cite this paper
L. Ksanfomality, "Possible Signs of Life on the Planet Venus," International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 3 No. 1, 2013, pp. 57-79. doi: 10.4236/ijaa.2013.31007.
L. Ksanfomality, "Possible Signs of Life on the Planet Venus," International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 3 No. 1, 2013, pp. 57-79. doi: 10.4236/ijaa.2013.31007.
References
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[1] I. Baraffe, G. Chabrier and T. Barman, “The Physical Properties of Extrasolar Planets,” Reports on Progress in Physics, Vol. 73, No. 1, 2010. doi:10.1088/0034-4885/73/1/016901 [2] H. Klahr and W. Brandner, “Planet Formation: Theory, Observation, and Experiments,” Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2006. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511536571 [3] L. V. Ksanfomality, “On the Nature of the Object HD 209458b: Conclusions Drawn from Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Data,” Solar System Research, Vol. 38, No. 4, 2004, p. 200. [4] A. D. Kuzmin and M. Ya Marov, “Fizika Planety Venera (The Venus Physics),” Nauka, Moscow, 1974. [5] L. Colin, “Basic Facts about Venus,” In: D. M. Hunten, L. Colin, T. M. Donahue and V. I. Moroz, Eds., Venus, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1983, Chapter 2. [6] D. M. Hunten, L. Colin, T. M. Donahue and V. I. Moroz, “Venus,” University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1983. [7] L. V. Ksanfomality, “Planeta Venera (The Planet Venus),” Fizmatlit, Moscow, 1985. [8] M. V. Keldysh, “The First Panoramas of the Surface of Venus,” NAUKA, Moscow, 1979. [9] V. S. Avduevsky, A. G. Godnev, Yu V. Zakharov, et al., “Estimation of Physical-Mechanic Properties of the Venusian Soil at Landing of the VENERA-13, -14,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 3, 1983, pp. 331-350. [10] A.S. Selivanov, V. P. Chemodanov, M. K. Naraeva, et al., “TV Experiment on the Venus Surface,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 14, No. 5, 1976, pp. 674-677. [11] A. S. Selivanov, A. S. Panfilov, M. K. Naraeva, et al., “Photometric Processing of the Venusian Surface Panoramas,” In: M. V. Keldysh, Ed., Pervye Panoramy Poverkhnosti Venery (First Panoramas of the Venus Surface), Nauka, Moscow, 1979, pp. 68-79. [12] A. S. Selivanov, Yu M. Gektin, M. A. Gerasimov, et al., “Continuation of the TV Investigation of Venus Surface by Means of Landers,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 2, 1983, pp. 176-182. [13] A. S. Selivanov, Yu M. Gektin, M. K. Naraeva, et al., “On Dynamic Phenomena Detected on the Venusian Surface Panoramas Obtained by the VENERA-13, -14 Landers,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 2, 1983, pp. 200-204. [14] I. M. Bokshtein, M. A. Kronrod, P. A. Chochia and Yu M. Gektin, “Processing of TV Panoramas of the Venus Transmitted by VENERA-13, -14,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 2, 1983, pp. 190-200. [15] M. Ya Marov, B. V. Byvshev, I. P. Baranov, et al., “Nephelometric Investigation of Venus Clouds by Means of VENERA-13, -14,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 2, 1983, pp. 269-278. [16] K. P. Florenskiy, A. T. Bazilevskiy, G. A. Burba, et al., “Panorama of Venera-9 and -10 Landing Sites,” In: D. M. Hunten, L. Colin, T. M. Donahue and V. I. Moroz, Eds., Venus, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1983, Chapter 8. [17] L.V. Ksanfomality, “Planety, Otkrytye Zanovo (Planets Discovered Anew),” Nauka, Moscow, 1978. [18] B. E. Moshkin, A. P. Economov, V. I. Moroz, et al., “Spectrophotometric Experiment on VENERA-13, -14 Landers,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 2, 1983, pp. 236-245. [19] L. V. Ksanfomality, “The Surface of Mercury in the 210-350 W Longitude Range,” Icarus, Vol. 200, No. 2, 2009, pp. 367-373. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.12.007 [20] L. V. Ksanfomality, “Results of the New Processing of Images Obtained from the Surface of Venus in a TV Experiment Onboard the VENERA-9 Lander (1975),” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 5, 2012, pp. 364-373. doi:10.1134/S0038094612050061 [21] L. V. Ksanfomality, “Venus as a Natural Laboratory for Search of Life in High Temperature Conditions: Events on the Planet on March 1, 1982,” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 1, 2012, pp. 41-53. doi:10.1134/S0038094612010042 [22] Yu S. Tyuflin and L. M. Kadnichanskaya, “Analytical Processing of the Venus Surface TV Panoramas for Digital Models of Areas,” In: M. V. Keldysh, Ed., Pervye Panoramy Poverkhnosti Venery (First Panoramas of the Venus Surface), Nauka, Moscow, 1979, pp. 63-68. [23] K. P. Florenskiy, A. T. Bazilevskii, A. A. Pronin and G. A. Burba, “Geological-Morphology Analysis of the Venus Panoramas,” In: M. V. Keldysh, Ed., Pervye Panoramy Poverkhnosti Venery (First Panoramas of the Venus Surface), Nauka, Moscow, 1979, pp. 107-127. [24] A. T. Basilevsky, “Analysis of Suspicious Objects on TV-Panorama Obtained by VENERA-9,” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 1, 2012, pp. 404-408. [25] D. P. Mitchell, “Anomalies in Video Transmission from Venera-13 Are Probably Not Life Forms,” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 5, 2012, pp. 412-314. doi:10.1134/S0038094612050036 [26] A. S. Spirin, “Comment to the Article L. V. Ksanfomality ‘Venus as a Natural Laboratory for Search of Life in High Temperature Conditions: Events on the Planet on March 1, 1982’,” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 5, 2012, p. 411. doi:10.1134/S0038094612050103 [27] A. S. Spirin, “Comment to the Article L. V. Ksanfomality ‘Venus as a Natural Laboratory for Search of Life in High Temperature Conditions: Events on the Planet on March 1, 1982’,” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 5, 2012, p. 415. [28] G. A. Avanesov, “Is There Life on Venus?” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 5, 2012, pp. 379-380. doi:10.1134/S0038094612050012 [29] A. S. Spirin, “Comment to the Article L. V. Ksanfomality ‘Venus as a Natural Laboratory for Search of Life in High Temperature Conditions: Events on the Planet on March 1, 1982’,” Solar System Research, Vol. 46, No. 5, 2012, p. 386. doi:10.1134/S0038094612050115 [30] L. V. Ksanfomality, N. V. Goroshkova and V. K. Khondirev, “Wind Velocity at the Venus Surface Obtained by Means of Acoustic Measurements,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 2, 1983, pp. 218-224. [31] V. V. Kerzhanovich, N. M. Ancibor, V. D. Kustodiyev, et al., “Vertical Profiles of the Wind in Venus Atmosphere by Means of Doppler Measurements of VENERA-13, -14,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 3, 1983, pp. 211-217. [32] L. V. Ksanfomality, “Mobility and Other Features of Hypothetical Venusian Fauna,” Doklady Physics, Vol. 57, No. 12, 2012, pp. 497-501. doi:10.1134/S1028335812120014 [33] L. V. Ksanfomality, “Hesperos: Unusual Objects on the Surface of the Planet Venus According to Data of Missions of 1975-1982,” Doklady Physics, Vol. 57, No. 11, 2012, pp. 455-459. doi:10.1134/S102833581211002X [34] A. L. Kemurdzhian, P. N. Brodskii, V. V. Gromov, et al., “Preliminary Results of Determination of Physical-Mechanic Properties of the Venusian Soil by VENERA-13, -14,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 3, 1983, pp. 323-330. [35] S. L. Miller and J. L. Bada “Submarine Hot Springs and the Origin of Life,” Nature, Vol. 334, 1988, pp. 609-611. doi:10.1038/334609a0 [36] C. S. Cockell, “Life on Venus,” Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 47, No. 12, 1999, pp. 1487-1501. doi:10.1016/S0032-0633(99)00036-7 [37] L. V. Ksanfomality, “Extrasolar Planets and Planets of the Solar Systems: Looking for Life beyond the Earth,” Proceedings of the SPIE, Vol. 4939, 2003, pp. 169-173. doi:10.1117/12.486690 [38] D. Schulze-Makuch, D. H. Grinspoon, O. Abbas, L. N. Irwin and M. A. Bullock, “A Sulfur-Based Survival Strategy for Putative Phototrophic Life in the Venusian Atmosphere,” Astrobiology, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2004, pp. 11-18. doi:10.1089/153110704773600203 [39] H. Lammer, J. H. Bredeh?ft, A. Coustenis, et al., “What Makes a Planet Habitable?” The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2009, pp. 181-249. doi:10.1007/s00159-009-0019-z [40] B. W. Jones “Life in the Solar System and Beyond,” Springer, Chichester, 2004. [41] L. V. Ksanfomality, F. L. Scarf and W. W. L. Taylor, “The Electrical Activity of the Atmosphere of Venus,” In: D. M. Hunten, L. Colin, T. M. Donahue and V.I. Moroz, Eds., Venus, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1983, Chapter 17. [42] A. M. Baklunov, V. P. Karyagin, V. M. Kovtunenko, et al., “Automatic Interplanetary Stations VENERA-13, -14,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, no. 2, 1983, pp. 151-153. [43] I. V. Barmin and A. A. Shevchenko, “Soil Collection Unit of the VENERA-13, -14 Landers,” Kosm. Issl., Vol. 21, No. 2, 1983, pp. 171-175. [44] M. Ya Marov, “Illumination on the Venus Surface Measured by Automated Interplanetary Station Venera-8,” In: M. V. Keldysh, Ed., Pervye Panoramy Poverkhnosti Venery (First Panoramas of the Venus Surface), Nauka, Moscow, 1979, pp. 80-106.