An Explanation for the Look of Venus’ Mysterious Surface
Venus, often called Earth’s “sister planet” due to its similar size and composition, holds one of the most enigmatic surfaces in the Solar System. Unlike Earth, Venus is shrouded by thick clouds of sulfuric acid, making direct optical observation of its surface nearly impossible. For decades, scientists have relied on radar mapping from space missions such as NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, which in the early 1990s produced detailed radar images revealing vast volcanic plains, mountain ranges, and large coronae structures. These observations hinted that Venus is geologically active, but the exact nature of its surface remained mysterious. Recent studies suggest that the planet's extreme surface conditions—temperatures around 465°C and atmospheric pressure 92 times that of Earth—play a significant role in shaping its unique appearance. Unlike Earth’s plate tectonics-driven surface, Venus appears to lack the same large-scale plate boundary activity. Instead, its surface seems dominated...