News Planetary Science

Evidence mounts for an ocean on early Venus

Second planet from the sun may have been watery millions of years after its birth, simulations suggest

Venus

NOT ALWAYS HELLISH  Venus is completely uninhabitable now. But simulations suggest that early in its history the planet had a liquid ocean.

SSV/MIPL/Magellan Team/NASA

By Ashley Yeager

- More than 2 years ago

Venus may have been all wet early on.

New simulations suggest that if the now-hellish planet had just the right amount of cloud cover, carbon dioxide and water to start with, Venus could have formed an ocean.