Suppose it was your choice...

And we could only do one or the other for the next thousand years. Mankind can either go to Mars, or Venus.

Mars cannot be properly terraformed, without a magnetic field and too thin an atmosphere to every make it truly habitable, we'd have to build massive domed colonies. The plus side being that we could do this, and have thousands, maybe millions of people living in contained dome cities on Mars within 50 years or so.

Or we go to Venus. With gravity similar to Earth and an active magnetic field, it can be truly terraformed with large bodies of water made available too. But that would require importing tons of matter over hundreds of years to neutralize and thin the super-thick and toxic atmosphere, and the construction of a large sun-shield to regulate the day-night cycle on Venus.

Which do you pick?

Mars: Disadvantage, must live in contained domes, can never be truly terraformed. Advantage, domed cities constructed within a generation or two.

Venus: Disadvantage, hundreds of years of terraforming and need of a giant sun-shield to regulate day and night. Advantage, truly terraformed and similar to Earth Gravity. Habitable without domes or spacesuits, and vast water oceans available.

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Reboot153 · 22-25, M

So, you know that the average temperature on Venus is 864 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius), right? (found that on a simple Google search). How would you propose that anyone live on Venus at any time when you consider that the surface of Venus is hot enough to melt metal?

Living on Mars is viable [i]right now[/i]. We actually do have the technology to live there though it would be in fully enclosed structures (similar to the space station) or in underground habitats. It wouldnt be a life that most people would want to live but Mars _is_ habitable now while Venus is not.

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Xuan12 · 31-35, M

To @marcusaurelius , and @Reboot153 if you're still here for some reason. Of course this question has an element of fiction. We couldn't build those dome cities on Mars right now either. Seriously? Millions of people within 50 years? The question is meant to take place at such a time that humanity IS actually setting out to colonize. And yes, there is a sound chemical process by which the Venusian atmosphere could be transformed, albeit more expensive than building simply building a domed colony. This was part of the point of the question. XD

Reboot153 · 22-25, M

@Xuan12 Do everyone a favor and go read the "Mars" trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. Yes, I do know exactly what "terraforming" is and means.

Do you know what "scientific facts" are or are you going on "alternate facts"? Most, if not ALL of your information about Venus is incorrect! Where did you get your data from?!

I think that the only fact that you got right is that Venus has gravity close to Earth's. Everything else is WRONG.

Please, for the love of god, read a science book before posting stupid questions like this. Yea, it's a fantasy, sci-fi question but you're trying to base it on reality and your facts for reality are completely wrong.

Xuan12 · 31-35, M

@Reboot153 You were just complaining about this question being too fictional, and now you recommend I read [b]science fiction[/b]? XD

Graylight · 51-55, F

I choose neither. Mars is not habitable given the technology we have in the human bodies we inhabit. Venus is perhaps the most similar planet in our galaxy to our own, but it's a planet that shows us our future. The gases and inhabitability of the planet is a glimpse into exactly where we're headed right here.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

Mars really is the only option. Forget the domes.. You tunnel.. That solves the radiation issue and saves terraforming. But lets face it, we are talking about a lifeboat or at best outpost situation here. The only viable options are on some of Jupiters moons and we are only guessing about them as yet.

marcusaurelius

Mars.

I know that Venus is much cheaper and actually effective but watching hell outside your space dome in Venus has serious mental effects

Xuan12 · 31-35, M

@marcusaurelius By the time you actually settle there though, it would be Earth-Like. :)

VioletDreams · 36-40, F

I'd say Mars. We really dont have that much time!

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