New theory suggests Venus may have eaten its moon

Venus, the planet closest to the Sun, has long puzzled astronomers because it has no natural satellite. The absence of a moon is one of the great mysteries in astronomy, and scientists have debated possible explanations for decades.

A new theory now offers a straightforward answer: Venus may have devoured its moon. According to the proposal, the planet could have captured and consumed a satellite, leaving it moonless.

Venus has no moon, and the new theory suggests it may have been eaten.