Claim CE210:
High surface temperatures on Venus (900 degrees F, 482 degrees C),
combined with its dense atmosphere, should long ago have eroded its
surface features if the planet were four billion years old. Venus's
features support a young age.
Source:
Response:
- A paucity of surface features usually indicates a young surface, not an
old one, because there would be less time for cratering to occur.
However, a young surface does not imply a young planet.
- In fact, there are few craters and surface features on Venus. This is
taken as evidence that the surface is young. Venus shows evidence of
volcanoes and rift valleys, suggesting some tectonic activity, which
would help to renew its surface. Venus's thick atmosphere also reduces
the impact of meteors and, as the claim notes, erodes features. The
features on Venus are probably all less than a few hundred million
years old.
Links:
Thompson, Tim, 1994. Is the planet Venus young?
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/venus-young.html
created 2003-7-1, modified 2003-7-16
