The 4000-7000 ¿ nightglow spectrum of Venus, as reported by the Russian Venera 9 and 10 probes, is composed primarily of the 0-V'' progression of the O2(c1&Sgr;u-→X3&Sgr;g-) system. Recent observations in a laboratory afterglow system have established other O2 emissions in the same spectral region. Based on this work, closer scrutiny of the Venera spectrum reveals the presence of the C3Δu→a1Δg O-v'' progression, known as the Chamberlain system in the terrestrial airglow, and thus the C3Δu→a1Δg bands are the first identified O2 emission that is common to both Earth and Venus. |