Magellan - Early results from the Venus mapping mission

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6154686

Saunders, R S

Some results obtained with the Magellan Venus Radar Mapper are presented. Mapping was initiated on October 26, 1990 and has completed over 714 orbits of image data, covering 40 percent of the surface of Venus. Mapping began at 330 deg east longitude, mapping from the north pole to about 78 deg south latitude. Included are the regions of Ishtar Terra, Sedna, Guinevere and Lavinia Planitiae, and Lada Terra. Features discernable from the mapping include high and lowland plains, evidence of volcanic activity, and impact craters from 6 km to over 50 km across. Some Magellan scientific discoveries are listed, including evidence of a predominant role of ballistic volcanism, extensive and intensive tectonics, a moderate rate of volcanic and tectonic resurfacing, and a low rate of weathering and wind erosion. Other discoveries concerning techntonics, volcanism, impact cratering, and exogenous resurfacing are also listed. Magellan image coverage is discussed, and a chronology of the development of VOIR and Magellan is provided.

• OSTI ID: 6154686
• Report Number(s): AIAA-Paper--91-0133; CONF-910117--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CAVITIES
CRATERS
GEOLOGY
IMAGES
MAPPING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
OVERBURDEN
PLANETS
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SPACE VEHICLES
TECTONICS
TRAJECTORIES
VEHICLES
VENUS PLANET
VOLCANISM
VOLCANOES
WEATHERING