Venus was potentially habitable until a mysterious event happened

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

Updated 2047 GMT (0447 HKT) September 20, 2019

Research suggests Venus may have had water oceans billions of years ago. A land-ocean pattern was used in a climate model to show how storm clouds could have shielded ancient Venus from strong sunlight and made the planet habitable.
Photos: Water in the solar system
Research suggests Venus may have had water oceans billions of years ago. A land-ocean pattern was used in a climate model to show how storm clouds could have shielded ancient Venus from strong sunlight and made the planet habitable.
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Jupiter's moon Europa, which has a subsurface ocean beneath an icy crust, has also been found to contain table salt. Tara Regio is the yellowish area to left of center where researchers identified an abundance of sodium chloride.
Photos: Water in the solar system
Jupiter's moon Europa, which has a subsurface ocean beneath an icy crust, has also been found to contain table salt. Tara Regio is the yellowish area to left of center where researchers identified an abundance of sodium chloride.
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Europa has also been found to have plumes that eject water vapor and icy material.
Photos: Water in the solar system
Europa has also been found to have plumes that eject water vapor and icy material.
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An artistic impression of the Mars Express spacecraft probing the southern hemisphere of Mars. Radar detected a lake of liquid water beneath the surface.
Photos: Water in the solar system
An artistic impression of the Mars Express spacecraft probing the southern hemisphere of Mars. Radar detected a lake of liquid water beneath the surface.
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Two meteorites, called Monahans and Zag, are the first discovered to contain the ingredients for life: liquid water, amino acids, hydrocarbons and other organic matter. The organic matter was found in purple and blue salt and potassium crystals that were part of the meteorites.
Photos: Water in the solar system
Two meteorites, called Monahans and Zag, are the first discovered to contain the ingredients for life: liquid water, amino acids, hydrocarbons and other organic matter. The organic matter was found in purple and blue salt and potassium crystals that were part of the meteorites.
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NASA's Cassini mission has evidence of an ocean inside Saturn's largest moon, <a href="http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/02jul_saltyocean/" target="_blank">Titan</a>, which might be as salty as the Earth's Dead Sea.
Photos: Water in the solar system
NASA's Cassini mission has evidence of an ocean inside Saturn's largest moon, Titan, which might be as salty as the Earth's Dead Sea.
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NASA is exploring the ocean worlds in our solar system as part of the search for life outside of Earth.
Photos: Water in the solar system
NASA is exploring the ocean worlds in our solar system as part of the search for life outside of Earth.
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Life as we know it is carbon-based and requires liquid water. About 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water, making life possible.
Photos: Water in the solar system
Life as we know it is carbon-based and requires liquid water. About 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water, making life possible.
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The Eagle lunar module of Apollo 11 ascends from the surface of Earth's moon in 1969. The <a href="http://www.space.com/27388-nasa-moon-mining-missions-water.html" target="_blank">presence of water on the moon</a> has been confirmed by scientists.
Photos: Water in the solar system
The Eagle lunar module of Apollo 11 ascends from the surface of Earth's moon in 1969. The presence of water on the moon has been confirmed by scientists.
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Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and very hot, but its polar regions may have <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/nov/HQ_12-411_Mercury_Ice.html" target="_blank">water ice and other frozen volatile materials</a>, according to NASA studies.
Photos: Water in the solar system
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and very hot, but its polar regions may have water ice and other frozen volatile materials, according to NASA studies.
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