Imaging of Venus from Galileo: Early results and camera performance

M. J.S. Belton, P. Gierasch, K. P. Klaasen, C. D. Anger, M. H. Carr, C. R. Chapman, M. E. Davies, R. Greeley, R. Greenberg, J. W. Head, G. Neukum, C. B. Pilcher, J. Veverka, F. P. Fanale, A. P. Ingersoll, J. B. Pollock, D. Morrison, M. C. Clary, W. Cunningham, H. Breneman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three images of Venus have been returned so far by the Galileo spacecraft following an encounter with the planet on UT February 10, 1990. The images, taken at effective wavelengths of 4200 and 9900 Å, characterize the global motions and distribution of haze near the Venus cloud tops and, at the latter wavelength, deep within the main cloud. Previously undetected markings are clearly seen in the near-infrared image. The global distribution of these features, which have maximum contrasts of 3%, is different from that recorded at short wavelengths. In particular, the "polar collar," which is omnipresent in short wavelength images, is absent at 9900 Å. The maximum contrast in the features at 4200 Å is about 20%. The optical performance of the camera is described and is judged to be nominal.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-103
Number of pages13
JournalAdvances in Space Research
Volume12
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Geophysics
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Imaging of Venus from Galileo: Early results and camera performance'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this