NASA HAS RELEASED A COMPOSITE of the complete radar imaging of Venus made using the Magellan mapping orbiter between September 1990 and October 1994, when the spacecraft entered the deeper portions of the Venusian atmosphere and was destroyed. Image A features the North Pole, including, the mountain Maxwell Montes, while the other images are centred around the equator, ranging between 0° and 270° longitude. Highlights include the Ovda Regio area shown in image C and the Atla Regio featured in image D, with scattered dark patches being halos surrounding younger-impact craters. Data gaps were filled with Pioneer Venus orbiter altimetric data taken between December 1978 and March 1981.
Source: Flight International
