THE SOLAR SYSTEM
▲Eistla Regio. This
false-colour perspective
of the western part of the
Eistla Regio region of Venus
depicts the view looking
north-west from a point
700 km (440 miles) from
the crater of Gula Mons, the
mountain seen at top right
which stands 3 km (2 miles)
above the surrounding plain.
The foreground is dominated
by a large rift valley.Alpha Regio. This mosaic
of radar images shows part
of the eastern edge of Alpha
Regio. The area contains
seven dome-like hills, three
of which are visible here,
averaging 25 km (16 miles) in
diameter and 750 m (2400
feet) in height. They may
have been formed by
successive lava eruptions.Atalanta Planitia.This vast plain
can be seen to the right of the fault
lines which radiate from near the
central region. The northern hemisphere
of Venus.This false colour
projection of the surface
of Venus was created from
data gathered during the
three cycles of Magellan’s
radar mapping observations.
The Magellan data was
supplemented with earlier
Pioneer Venus data, and the
general colour hue comes
from the Russian Venera
lander’s images taken whilst
on the surface of the planet
in 1972.Lakshmi Planum. The Lakshmi Plateau
lies just to the left of the Maxwell
Mountains. It stands 2.5–4 km
(1.5–2.5 miles) above the surface
and is covered by lava.North Pole.The north pole of Venus
lies at the very centre of the image.
Longitude zero is to the right. There
is major faulting above the pole.Maxwell Montes. The Maxwell
Mountains are seen as a large bright
patch below centre in this image.
They are the highest mountains on
the planet, with peaks extending
more than 7 km (4.5 miles)
above the surface.Movements of Magellan
The Magellan space probe was put into an orbit
around Venus, and mapped the surface in a series
of 20-kilometre (12.5-mile) swathes. When this
programme was completed, the probe was put
into a more elliptical orbit. When the whole of
the surface had been mapped, in 1993, Magellan
entered a circular orbit to undertake gravitational
studies of the planet.C Atl of Univ Phil'03stp 2/4/03 3:03 pm Page 75