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Mysteries and Discoveries of Venus Revealed

Delve into the fascinating world of Venus, where a thick CO2 atmosphere and high surface pressure create a shroud over the planet's surface. Explore missions, surface features, spacecraft studies, and the unique geological composition of Venus, from basalt rocks to pancake domes. Uncover the factors that make Venus drastically different from Earth, despite both planets being rocky worlds in the solar system. Discover how the "Greenhouse Effect" affects Venus and learn about the vital role of carbon dioxide in planetary processes.

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Mysteries and Discoveries of Venus Revealed

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  1. A thick CO2 atmosphere with a surface pressure 92 times that of Earth’s atmosphere hides the planet’s surface from view

  2. Facts about Venus * * * o * 462 C

  3. Venus Atmospheric Missions • Mariner 10 – Fly-by in 1973 • Pioneer Venus – 5 probes in 1978 • Vega 1 and 2 – 2 probes in 1985 • Galileo – Fly-by in 1990 • Europe’s Venus Express (orbits in April 2006) • Messenger (fly-bys October 2006 & June 2007)

  4. * * * *

  5. Cloud Tops o 45 km = 100 C

  6. The “Greenhouse Effect” on Venus

  7. Carbon dioxide cycle on Earth keeps us from being like Venus But this cycle would not work if there’s no liquid water!

  8. Single-celled floating organisms like these foraminifera construct fragile CaCO3 shells. When the organisms die, their shells sink to the ocean floor and form limestone deposits, thus trapping CO2.

  9. Limestone deposits in today’s oceans

  10. Spacecraft that have studied the surface of Venus • Mariner 2 – 1962 – First planetary mission • Pioneer Venus – 1978 - Topography and atmospheric probes • Veneras 8 – 14, 1975 – 1982 – Landers! • Veneras 15 & 16, 1984 – Orbital radars • Magellan – 1990 – 1994 – Orbital radar images, topography and gravity data • Europe’s Venus Express, 2006

  11. Venera 14 Soviet Lander - 1982

  12. Landing Sites for Venera Spacecraft

  13. Venera 14 views of surface of Venus

  14. The surface of Venus, imaged by the Venera 14 Lander. Upper image: CO2 atmosphere results in reddish color. Lower image: CO2 removed. The dark rock is basalt!

  15. Composition of the surface rocks of Venus. The rocks are basalt!

  16. Magellan being launched from Space Shuttle

  17. Topography of Venus from the Pioneer Venus spacecraft

  18. The “continents” on Venus are as big or bigger than those on Earth

  19. Maxwell Montes over 12 km high!

  20. Maat Mons ~8 km high Still active?

  21. Sapas Mons ~400 km dia.

  22. Cleopatra Caldera On Lakshmi Planum

  23. Tectonic features: Fotla Corona S.E. of Aphrodite Terra

  24. Tessera rolling plains near Maxwell Montes

  25. Rift zones

  26. Unusual fluid ejecta at impact craters on Venus Aurelia crater 32 km diameter Stuart Crater 67 km diameter

  27. Wind streaks – fine particles moved by wind

  28. Isabella crater – Ejecta so hot it flows like lava

  29. High surface pressure may help pancake domes form

  30. Summary of Venus

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