spacetoday.net: Venus may have aurorae without a magnetic field

Venus may have aurorae without a magnetic field

Posted: Sat, Apr 7, 2012, 9:59 AM ET (1359 GMT)
Venus Express illustration (ESA)

Venus, a planet without its own magnetic field, may still be able to generate auroral activity, scientists reported this week. Data collected by Europe's Venus Express spacecraft shows evidence of reconnection of magnetic fields in Venus's magnetotail, a region on the opposite side of the planet from the Sun created by the solar wind's interaction with the planet's upper atmosphere. This reconnection, which converts magnetic energy to kinetic energy, creates auroral activity for planets with their own magnetic fields, like the Earth; scientists hypothesize this reconnection activity in Venus's magnetotail could do the same. Similar phenomena could also take place on comets, scientists said, causing their tails to break off.