Hot Flow Anomalies: Planet-Sized Space Weather Explosions Rock Venus

A common space weather phenomenon on the outskirts of Earth's magnetic bubble, the magnetosphere, has a much different effect on Venus.  The giant explosions, called hot flow anomalies, can be so large at Venus that they're bigger than the entire planet - and they can happen multiple times a day.  Earth is protected from the constant streaming solar wind of radiation by its magnetosphere. Venus, on the other hand, is a barren, inhospitable planet, with an atmosphere so dense that spacecraft landing there are crushed within hours. Venus has no magnetic protection.  read more

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