Mariner 10 - Venus Flyby

Venus Flyby

The spacecraft passed Venus on February 5, 1974, the closest approach being 5,768 km at 17:01 UT. Using a near-ultraviolet filter, it photographed the Cytherean chevron clouds and performed other atmospheric studies. It was discovered that extensive cloud detail could be seen through Mariner's ultraviolet camera filters. Venus's cloud cover is nearly featureless in visible light. Earth-based ultra-violet observation did reveal some indistinct blotching even before Mariner 10, but the detail seen by Mariner was a surprise to most researchers.

  • Venus encounter

  • Venus in real colors, processed from clear and blue filtered Mariner 10 images

  • Mariner photograph of Venus in ultraviolet light

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