THE EVIDENCE FROM THE PLANET

Until just recently, Venus īs dense cloud cover had prevented scientists from uncovering the geological nature of the surface. Developments in radar telescopes and radar systems orbiting the planet have made it possible to see through the cloud deck to the surface below. A few Soviet sondes Venera survived high pressure and the heat on the planet and sent some surface images. In 1982 Venera 12 landed at Beta Regio in the middle of inhospitable vast plain with volcanic rocks and reefs. A camcorder took a view of a part of the sonde, a lapsed lens cover and a scenery in dense orange - illuminated clouds.



A SPACESHIP FROM SPARE PARTS

An American spaceship Magellan was constructed from spare parts of Viking, Voyager, Galileo and Ulysses sondes and it has succeeded many times since its start in May 1989. Magellan is able to fly over the planet in 3 hours and 9 minutes and go on mapping more than 243 days, which is one Venus's day. The most important and valuable instrument on the board is a Magellan radar with the help of which scientists on the Earth can see the picture of Venus surface with objects up to 250 metres. What is more, Magellan has an altimeter measuring natural elevations with the precision of 30 metres.



HARSH BOILING VENUS

Scientists trust in Magellan to depict Venus, e.g. when the greenhouse effect started. Much from Venus's history is hidden under lava flows. Venus is still volcanic active. At least 85% of the Venusian surface is covered with volcanic rock. Huge lava flows, extending for hundreds of kilometres, have flooded the lowlands creating vast plains. More than 100,000 small shield volcanoes dot the surface along with hundreds of large volcanoes. Flows from volcanoes have produced long channels extending for hundreds of kilometres or thousands kilometres.