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> breathing-air is buoyant I'm really curious what the temperature, atmospheric makeup, and density is at different altitudes on Venus. I had no idea there cou
by dehrmann 4y ago
> breathing-air is buoyant
I'm really curious what the temperature, atmospheric makeup, and density is at different altitudes on Venus. I had no idea there could be a theoretically habitable altitude on it.
- pencilguin 4y agoAtmosphere is mostly CO2, with relatively small amounts of other stuff. O2 and N2 are lighter, so a balloon filled with them could hold stuff up.
- dehrmann 4y agoSo we could live in balloons?
- pencilguin 4y agoThat is the idea. Want to go first? I will watch carefully.
- LorenPechtel 4y agoWhat's really interesting to me is that at the right latitude you can dig in and find Mercury quite habitable.
- pencilguin 4y ago176 Earth days from sunrise to sunrise: 2 local years, half an Earth year. So instead of spring/ summer/fall/winter, you have day/night/day/night. At the right latitude, and a few meters deep, temperature would be comfortable. But energy would be a problem, with the season-long night. Axial tilt is <2 degrees. There might be some volatiles frozen in polar craters. Temperature at a pole would be low, but solar panels mounted vertically (or, better, a wavelength-selective mirror reflecting onto horizontal panels), rotating slowly, would offer continuous power. Constant temperature too low is a lot easier to handle than too high, or varying much. You need to dig down for protection from cosmic radiation. Gravity is about like Mars, which might or might not be adequate, long term. Nobody knows. It is remarkably hard to get to and from Mercury. Jupiter is easier.