Atlas Of Venus

Venus, closest planet to the Earth, is a torrid world of extremes shrouded from direct view by dense clouds. This Atlas of Venus shows all the fascinating detail discovered on the recent Magellan mission to map the planet surface. Giving the historical background to our perception of the planet, this book clearly explains why Venus has been the goal of so many missions by both Russian and American space programmes. With the latest images from the Magellan mission, this colourful Atlas shows the beautiful landscape of Venus and its dynamic volcanism. Over 100 maps and illustrations show the dramatic beauty of this photogenic planet. Complete with detailed maps of the planet and a gazetteer of all landmarks, this is the essential reference source for all professional and amateur astronomers, and planetary scientists interested in our closest neighbour.

Detailed maps of the Moon and Mars, as well as Venus, are presented with an outline of the current information satellites have made available

A leading Venus researcher explains in a friendly non-technical style what we know through our investigations of Earth's 'twin' planet.

Spectacular full-color photographs introduce Earth's "sister planet," from its scorching deserts and clouds of sulfuric acid to the crushing pressure of its atmosphere. From Kirkus Reviews: "In the same large, square format as Simon's books on other planets, a clear, concise text draws on the latest findings and the best of recent color photos. Venus has her special charms--the hottest planet in the solar system, covered with clouds of sulphuric acid, with bizarre surface details--all emerging from photos and radar maps taken from earlier Russian expeditions and NASA's Magellan spacecraft, which is still orbiting Venus. Our sister planet? Not even human siblings exhibit such diversity, and why this is so is an intriguing puzzle.” Newly updated (2012).

Shrouded by the thick clouds of hot, dense atmosphere, the planet Venus - Earth's closest neighbour in space - remained mysterious until recent decades. Today, with data from contemporary observations and from Russian and American spacecraft, Venus has moved into sharper focus. This comprehensive book provides an up-to-date and detailed analysis of the nature of Venus. The authors, experts in planetary science from Russia and the United States, examine all the principal aspects of Venus, with particular attention paid to the planet's formation, the development of a runaway greenhouse effect, and Venus' evolution into a planet completely different from others in our solar system. Integrating data from Galileo, Magellan, Pioneer-Venus, Venera sand other space missions, this book summarizes the history of Venus, covers the atmosphere, geomorphology and tectonic history of the planet, and considers its geology.