AbstractIn this work we describe a model of the perturbation of the O2(a1Δg) nightglow limb profiles by the action of gravity waves (GWs) propagating in the Venus' upper atmosphere. Data have been acquired by the Visible and InfraRed Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) on board the European Space Agency mission Venus Express (VEX). The high variability observed in the shape of the O2(a1Δg) nightglow limb profiles between 80 and 120 km, often characterized by the presence of a double peak, suggests the occurrence of GWs at the considered altitudes. In order to model and derive the GWs properties, we apply to Venus a well‐known theory used to study terrestrial density fluctuations induced by the GWs propagation. The retrieved vertical wavelengths and amplitudes of the waves at the O2(a1Δg) layer altitude (~100 km) are of the order of 7–16 km and 3–14% respectively, complying with wave amplitude threshold for dynamical instability in the majority of the fitted cases. Temperature fluctuations would exceed 40% at higher altitudes (115–120 km) thus inducing either wave breaking or dissipation. Intrinsic horizontal phase velocities are expected to vary in the range 32 m/s and 85 m/s. GWs are detected in a wide range of latitudes from the midlatitudes up to the polar regions, and we cannot exclude existence of the sources of different nature. This study also confirms the high variability induced by the action of GW propagation in the airglow profiles of the terrestrial planets and points out the need for future missions to couple simultaneous complementary GW detection techniques in order to better constrain GW properties and understand their impact on the Venus general circulation.