Venus is often called the Earth’s “evil twin” since they’re roughly the same size, formed in the same inner part of the solar system, and happen to be neighbors as well — although, as suggested by that moniker, Venus is horrendously inhospitable to life as we know it compared to our home planet.
The similarities may run even deeper than previously known. Scientists have previously suggested that Venus once had a moon orbiting it, which met its demise when an enormous object impacted with it. Other researchers believe its current lack of moons — beyond several trojan asteroids that don’t directly orbit the planet and therefore don’t meet the definition of a moon — means that Venus never experienced the kind of impact that could’ve dislodged enough material to form a natural satellite.
Now, a new study published in The Astrophysical Journal upends that consensus, with the authors suggesting that Venus did indeed once have a moon — until it spiraled inwards and crashed into the planet’s surface in an apocalyptic demise.
Put simply, Venus may have devoured its own moon.
