Possibility of Existence and Expected Properties of Ball Lightning in the Atmospheres of Venus and Jupiter

M.L. Shmatov (2004), JBIS, 57, 271-276

Refcode: 2004.57.271
Keywords: Extraterrestrial atmospheric electricity, safety of space missions, evolution of life

Abstract:
A new model of ball lightning predicts that the high atmospheric pressure near the surface of Venus and the low atomic numbers of the main components of the atmosphere of Jupiter are very favourable for the existence of ball lightning. This and the fact of the registration of the electric discharges in the atmospheres of the aforementioned planets allow us to consider ball lightning as one of the potentially dangerous factors for Venusian and Jovian missions.