Since the 1960s, astronomers have used radio waves, transmitted from antennas on Earth or on satellites orbiting Venus, to penetrate the clouds and map the planet. The resulting images reveal surface roughness, density, and slope, but not color. Unless otherwise noted, all of the images of Venus in this exhibit were collected by the Magellan spacecraft. Magellan used radar to produce the first high-resolution global map of Venus. Areas of high elevation, such as mountain ranges or volcanoes, also appear very bright.
Black stripes are areas of missing data.
M agellan Magellan's large main antenna bounced radar signals off the surface of Venus and transmitted the resulting data back to Earth. A computer processed the data to form the images displayed below. The solar panels provided electric power. Magellan orbited Venus from 1990 until 1995, when it burned up in the planet's atmosphere.