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P-39916 MGN-93
March 16, 1992
This unusual Venusian volcano is located on the plains between Artemis Chasma and Imdr Regio at 37.5 degrees south latitude and 164.5 degrees east longitude. The dome structure with lava channels radiating from the volcanic center is about 100 km (62 miles) across. This volcanic feature has been imaged by Magellan in both left-looking and right-looking modes. This image, from the second mapping cycle, was taken from the right. The volcano and its lava flows appear much the same in both images, but there are two important differences. In the left-looking image west- facing slopes are brighter because they are tilted toward the radar. In this right-looking image, west-facing slopes are darker because they face away from the radar. Another difference is the image displacement caused by elevation differences as seen by the radar from the two sides. The top of a flow margin is displaced toward the radar relative to its base. The displacement is in the opposite direction in the two images. The sum of the two displacements is called parallax and can be used to estimate the height of features. The topographic relief that can be measured horizontally is much more precise than can be measured with the altimeter (about 10 kilometers, or 6 miles). Parallax measurements show that the thickness of the lobe of lava at the left-center edges of the image is variable but typically about 540 meters (1772 feet). This measurement conflicts with the altimetry measurement. The fan-shaped lava flow in the lower left is about 120 meters (394 feet) thick near its edge. Lava scarps on the east side of the complex are about 90 meters (295 feet) high. (See P-39717)
Magellan Images