News Planetary Science

Venus once possibly habitable, study suggests

Critics question assumptions in analysis of harsh planet’s past

Venus

HOT SPOT Venus, seen in this radar map from the Magellan spacecraft, might have once been habitable, new simulations suggest.

JPL-Caltech/NASA

By Christopher Crockett

- More than 2 years ago

Venus might have once been prime real estate. New computer simulations suggest that the hellish planet next door could have been habitable in the not-too-distant past, with moderate temperatures, plenty of seaside locales and even a few spots for skiing.