Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Title:
Venus - Three-Dimensional Perspective View of Alpha Regio
Original Caption Released with Image:
A portion of Alpha Regio is displayed in this three-dimensional perspective view of the surface of Venus. Alpha Regio, a topographic upland approximately 1300 kilometers across, is centered on 25 degrees south latitude, 4 degrees east longitude. In 1963, Alpha Regio was the first feature on Venus to be identified from Earth-based radar. The radar-bright area of Alpha Regio is characterized by multiple sets of intersecting trends of structural features such as ridges, troughs, and flat-floored fault valleys that, together, form a polygonal outline. Directly south of the complex ridged terrain is a large ovoid-shaped feature named Eve. The radar-bright spot located centrally within Eve marks the location of the prime meridian of Venus. Magellan synthetic aperture radar data is combined with radar altimetry to develop a three-dimensional map of the surface. Ray tracing is used to generate a perspective view from this map. The vertical scale is exaggerated approximately 23 times. Simulated color and a digital elevation map developed by the U. S. Geological Survey are used to enhance small scale structure. The simulated hues are based on color images recorded by the Soviet Venera 13 and 14 spacecraft. The image was produced at the JPL Multimission Image Processing Laboratory by Eric De Jong, Jeff Hall, and Myche McAuley, and is a single frame from the movie released at the March 5, 1991, press conference.
Addition Date:
1996-12-02
Produced By:
JPL
Mission:
Magellan
Spacecraft:
Magellan
Target Name:
Venus
Is a satellite of:
Sol (our sun)
Instrument:
Imaging Radar
Product Size:
5000 samples x 4000 lines
Primary Data Set:
Magellan MIDRs
Producer ID:
P39168
facet_what:
Sun
facet_what:
Venus
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Magellan
facet_what:
Venera 13
facet_what:
Meridian
facet_where:
Venus
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_when:
1963
facet_when:
March 5, 1991
facet_when_year:
1991
facet_when_year:
1963
Image #:
PIA00481
UID:
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA00481
orignial url:

Venus - Three-Dimensional Perspective View of Alpha Regio