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> A venusian volcanic valley - Artist view

A venusian volcanic valley - Artist view

author: Walter B. Myers/Novapix

reference: a-ven99-10005

Image Size 300 DPI: 33 * 25 cm

Based upon analysis of the number and distribution of impact craters across the whole of Venus, the entire surface appears to be the same age: about 500 million years old. This is an astonishing result since 500 million years is young for a planet in our solar system. Like the Earth, Venus is thought to be about 4.5 billion years old. This suggests that 500 million years ago (1/9th Venus' current age) Venus completely resurfaced itself--turned itself inside out. What caused such a cataclysmic event, or if indeed this is what really happened, remains a mystery.

Keywords for this photo:

ASTRONOMY - ILLUSTRATION - PLANET - SOIL - VENUS - VOLCANO - VOLCANOLOGY -