Does Lightning Strike On Venus?

      Forty years ago, a question sprung up about whether lightning is able to strike on Venus. Now, that question is close to being answered.

     Lightning is a force found all over our solar system - from Earth to Uranus. Venus, however, is cloaked in thick clouds - preventing satellites and spacecraft from seeing anything on the ground of the planet. 

     Ten years ago, the Japanese spacecraft - Akatsuki - was sent to orbit Venus. It failed to do so the first time so went around all the planets before returning to Venus to try a second time. Akatsuki has been circling around Venus for about five years now and, for the first time, has caught a flash of light on camera.

     Whether lightning does occur on Venus is something scientists have been arguing about for a very long time. Now that a possible lightning flash has been caught on camera, experts are arguing even more. Some say that the flash could have been a big space rock that blew up while it was going to crash into the planet. Others say it could have been light that reflected off of the spacecraft's loose gear.

     Now, after the recent flash of light, a team of Japanese scientists are working to get rid of any other possible things that could have gotten in the way and accidentally caused the flash of light. Lots of people are excited because if the light was actually a lightning strike it could help to find what other things are on the surface of the clouded planet and if it is possible for humans to live there.