Magellan - New Zealand News Beep | NewsBeep.com

This hemispheric view of Venus was created using radar observations, including images from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft. Magellan imaged more than 98% of Venus. Gaps in the Magellan coverage were filled with images from the Earth-based Arecibo radar. The composite image was processed to improve contrast and to emphasize small features, and was color-coded to represent elevation. Magellan launched on May 4, 1989, and was deployed from the cargo bay of Space Shuttle Atlantis on May 5, 1989. The spacecraft orbited Venus from August 10, 1990, until October 13, 1994 when the spacecraft was commanded to plunge into the atmosphere of Venus. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / USGS.

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Giant Rift Valleys Hint Venus is Still Tectonically Active

July 24, 2026

New 3D computer simulations from ETH Zurich show that young rift flanks on Venus stay tall and steep,…

Magellan radar image of Venus displaying several pit chains and the identified skylight, marked as A, potentially providing access to the subsurface (i.e., empty void); the white arrow indicates the radar illumination direction. Image credit: NASA / Carrer et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-68643-6.

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Hidden Caves on Venus? New Analysis Suggests Massive Lava Tube beneath Venusian Surface

February 10, 2026

Using archival radar data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, planetary researchers have identified a vast underground conduit beneath the…