Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. E. De Jong et al. This computer reconstruction of the surface of Venus was created from data from the Magellan spacecraft . Magellan orbited Venus and used radar to map our neighboring planet's surface between 1990 and 1994. Magellan found many interesting surface features, including the large circular domes , typically 25-kilometers across, that are depicted above .
Volcanism is thought to have created the domes, although the precise mechanism remains unknown.
Venus ' surface is so hot and hostile that no surface probe has lasted more than a few minutes. Specific rights apply .