NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection

A Venusian Landscape

This computer generated view of a Venusian volcano was created using data from NASA's Magellan spacecraft [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. Magellan used its onboard radar to map the surface of Venus [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] which is hidden from telescopic observations by a perpetual cloud cover. Using this radar data to provide three dimensional information, a computer was then able to produce this view of Maat Mons [ http://nssdc.gsfc.n…], a 5 mile high volcano, from a dramatic perspective. The colors used to render the surface are based on earlier color images transmitted by TV cameras on the Soviet Venera 13 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] and 14 Venus landers.

NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/], JPL Magellan Project [ http://NewProducts.…]

Venus

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Venus

Magellan

Venera 13

http://antwrp.gsfc.…

SPD-APOD-ap950928