Unexpected detail in first-ever Venus south pole images

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Composite false-colour view of Venus south pole captured by VIRTIS 12 April 2006 onboard Venus Express. Credits: ESAINAF-IASF Rome Italy and Observatoire de Paris France
Composite, false-colour view of Venus south pole captured by VIRTIS 12 April 2006 onboard Venus Express. Credits: ESA/INAF-IASF, Rome, Italy, and Observatoire de Paris, France

ESA's Venus Express has returned the first-ever images of the hothouse planet's south pole from a distance of 206 452 kilometres, showing surprisingly clear structures and unexpected detail. The images were taken 12 April during the spacecraft's initial capture orbit after successful arrival on 11 April 2006.


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All News summaries for April 13, 2006

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10 minutes ago | User rating: not rated yet
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12 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
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Jul 25, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
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