Hundreds of Venus-like planets could soon help determine why some worlds become sweltering greenhouse hellscapes while others remain capable of supporting life. But before answering that question, scientists first need to know how fast those planets are spinning.
The speed of a planet’s rotation helps determine how energy from a star, like the sun, moves around a planet and shapes its weather patterns, as well as interactions between its atmosphere and oceans, if the planet has them. Without knowing the true rotation rate, scientists trying to model an alien planet’s climate are missing a fundamental piece of information.
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