{
  "id": 7542716,
  "title": "Venus had a moon for nearly 2 billion years, scientists say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/venus-had-a-moon-for-nearly-2-billion-years-scientists-say",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-15T11:51:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "EarthSky",
    "slug": "earthsky",
    "url": "https://earthsky.org/space/venus-had-a-moon-moons-roche-limit/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists from the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Bordeaux, CNRS in France, have found evidence suggesting that Venus may have had a moon for nearly 2 billion years. This is the first time a moon has been proposed for Venus, as the planet is currently known to have no natural satellites.\n\nThe researchers propose that the hypothetical Venusian moon would have been destroyed due to Venus' slower rotation compared to Earth. The moon would have transferred angular momentum to Venus, causing its orbit to gradually move closer to the planet. This process would eventually lead to the Roche limit, at approximately 9,321 miles (15,000 km) above Venus, where Venus' gravity would tear the moon apart, forming a temporary ring around the planet.\n\nThe duration of the moon's existence would depend on its mass. If the moon was about half the mass of Earth's moon, it would have survived for around 1.7 billion years. However, if the moon was twice as massive, it would have lasted only about 30 million years.\n\nAlthough the evidence strongly suggests that Venus had a moon, it is difficult to prove due to the lack of remnants left behind. The researchers hope that future studies, such as analyzing seismic waves moving through Venus' interior, may provide more insight into the existence of this ancient moon. While Venus no longer has a moon, it does have rings in its atmosphere, discovered in polarized light images.",
  "summary": "Venus had a moon a long time ago, scientists in the US and France say. It likely survived for nearly 2 billion years until Venus' gravity tore it apart. The post Venus had a moon for nearly 2 billion years, scientists say first appeared on EarthSky .",
  "key_points": [
    "Venus may have had a moon for nearly 2 billion years, according to scientists.",
    "The hypothetical moon would have been destroyed by Venus' slower rotation.",
    "Future studies could provide more insight into the ancient moon's existence."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}