Aphrodite Terra is one of the three continental regions on the planet
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...
, the others being
Ishtar Terra and
Lada Terra. It is named for Aphrodite, the Greek equivalent of the goddess Venus, and is found near the equator of the planet. Aphrodite Terra is about half the size of Africa, making it the largest of the terrae.
Description
Aphrodite Terra was named by the
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; , UAI) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and developmen ...
, the governing body for planetary and satellite nomenclature, after Aphrodite, the
goddess of love. The name was chosen because Aphrodite is the Greek equivalent of the Roman goddess
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...
.
Located near the equator of Venus, Aphrodite Terra has an area about half the size of
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
, and is much larger than the rougher
Ishtar Terra. It is covered with deep rift valleys. Like Ishtar Terra, Aphrodite Terra also has mountain ranges but they are only about half the size of the mountains on Ishtar.
Extending nearly two thirds around the planet, Aphrodite Terra's topography appears buckled and fractured which suggests large compressive forces. There are also numerous extensive lava flows across this terrain
and some have an interesting bow shape to them due to atmospheric gravity waves.
Aphrodite Terra has two main regions:
Ovda Regio in the west and
Thetis Regio in the east.
Ovda Regio has ridges running in two directions, suggesting that the compressive forces are acting in several directions. Certain dark regions appear to be solidified lava flows. A series of cracks appear where lava has welled up through the surface and flooded the surrounding terrain.
Gallery
File:Venus Topo 090 East, 773-,663,-110.jpg, Radar image and topography of the western Aphrodite Terra
File:2438 pioneer venus map of venus.jpg, Color-coded elevation map, showing the elevated "continents" in yellow: Aphrodite Terra is just below the equator to the right. ''Pioneer Venus'' Orbiter collected these data with radar.
File:Venus-ParkerSolarProbe-July2020.jpg, Visible light image of Venus with Ovda Regio plateau of Aphrodite Terra visible, in a first view of the surface of Venus from space ( Parker Solar Probe, July 2020)
File:Parker Solar Probe flew by Venus on its fourth flyby.gif, Parker Solar Probe images showing features on the Venusian surface, such as the continental region Aphrodite Terra, the Tellus Regio plateau, and the Aino Planitia plains.
See also
*
Geography of Venus
*
Ishtar Terra
*
Lada Terra
*''
Vega 1''
*''
Vega 2''
References
External links
NASA Map of Venus:
{{Authority control
Surface features of Venus