On January 9, 1643, the Italian astronomer Giovanni Riccioli saw a weird glowing light on the night side of Venus.
He named it "The Ashen Light of Venus." Astronomers have seen it intermittently since then, while others who have looked for it have not been able to find it. To this day, no one really know what causes the Ashen Light. At first, people wanted to attribute it to the optical quality of telescopes. Today many believe that the light is associated with lightning storms on Venus. It could also be the result of solar radiation interacting with the atmosphere similar to how auroras happen on Earth. Whatever it is, it's been a scientific mystery for centuries.
He named it "The Ashen Light of Venus." Astronomers have seen it intermittently since then, while others who have looked for it have not been able to find it. To this day, no one really know what causes the Ashen Light. At first, people wanted to attribute it to the optical quality of telescopes. Today many believe that the light is associated with lightning storms on Venus. It could also be the result of solar radiation interacting with the atmosphere similar to how auroras happen on Earth. Whatever it is, it's been a scientific mystery for centuries.
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TechTranscript
00:00On this day in space.
00:04On January 9th, 1643, the Italian astronomer Giovanni Ricchioli
00:08saw a weird glowing light on the night side of Venus.
00:12He named it the Ashen Light of Venus. Astronomers have seen it intermittently
00:16since then, while others who have looked for it have not been able to find it.
00:20To this day, no one really knows what causes the Ashen Light. At first, people wanted to
00:24attribute it to the optical quality of telescopes. Today, many believe that the light
00:28is associated with lightning storms on Venus. It could also be the result of
00:32solar radiation interacting with the atmosphere, similar to how auroras happen on Earth.
00:36Whatever it is, it's been a scientific mystery for centuries.
00:40And that's what happened on this day in space.