JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Image

Venus - Maxwell Montes and Cleopatra Crater

Feb 05, 1996
NASA's Magellan full-resolution image shows Maxwell Montes, centered at 65 degrees north latitude and 6 degrees east longitude. Maxwell is the highest mountain on Venus, rising almost 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) above mean planetary radius.

This Magellan full-resolution image shows Maxwell Montes, and is centered at 65 degrees north latitude and 6 degrees east longitude. Maxwell is the highest mountain on Venus, rising almost 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) above mean planetary radius. The western slopes (on the left) are very steep, whereas the eastern slopes descend gradually into Fortuna Tessera. The broad ridges and valleys making up Maxwell and Fortuna suggest that the topography resulted from compression. Most of Maxwell Montes has a very bright radar return; such bright returns are common on Venus at high altitudes. This phenomenon is thought to result from the presence of a radar reflective mineral such as pyrite. Interestingly, the highest area on Maxwell is less bright than the surrounding slopes, suggesting that the phenomenon is limited to a particular elevation range. The pressure, temperature, and chemistry of the atmosphere vary with altitude; the material responsible for the bright return probably is only stable in a particular range of atmospheric conditions and therefore a particular elevation range. The prominent circular feature in eastern Maxwell is Cleopatra. Cleopatra is a double-ring impact basin about 100 kilometers (62 miles) in diameter and 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) deep. A steep-walled, winding channel a few kilometers wide breaks through the rough terrain surrounding the crater rim. A large amount of lava originating in Cleopatra flowed through this channel and filled valleys in Fortuna Tessera. Cleopatra is superimposed on the structures of Maxwell Montes and appears to be undeformed, indicating that Cleopatra is relatively young.

Download JPG
Download TIFF
Mission
  • Magellan
Target
  • Venus
Spacecraft
  • Magellan
Instrument
  • Radar System
Credit
NASA/JPL

Keep Exploring

Surface Warmth on a Venus Volcano

Venus Hemispherical Globes (with place names)

Venus Hemispherical Globes

Magellan's Perspective View of Sedna Planitia, 45° N, 350° E

Looking Westward Across the Fortuna Tessera (Left Member of a Synthetic Stereo Pair)

Sedna Planitia (Right Member of a Synthetic Stereo Pair)

Nova Superposed on Yavine Corona

Sedna Planitia (Left Member of a Synthetic Stereo Pair)

Looking Westward Across the Fortuna Tessera (Right Member of a Synthetic Stereo Pair)

Magellan's View of Crater Markham, 0° N, 163° E

Related Topic

News .

NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover Provides Front-Row Seat to Landing, First Audio Recording of Red Planet

News .

NASA to Reveal New Video, Images From Mars Perseverance Rover

News .

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Reports In

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Sends Sneak Peek of Mars Landing

News .

Touchdown! NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover Safely Lands on Red Planet

News .

Searching for Life in NASA’s Perseverance Mars Samples

News .

The Mars Relay Network Connects Us to NASA’s Martian Explorers

News .

InSight Is Meeting the Challenge of Winter on Dusty Mars

News .

NASA Invites Public to Share Thrill of Mars Perseverance Rover Landing

News .

Where Should Future Astronauts Land on Mars? Follow the Water

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Universe Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono