Venus

Aims

• To examine the similarities and differences between Venus and Earth.
• To illustrate the harsh Venusian environment: its crushing, poisonous atmosphere, searingly hot temperatures and volcanic surface.
• To recount the unveiling of Venus - initially by radar from Earth, then through spacecraft missions to the planet, culminating in the Magellan craft which imaged the planet from orbit using radar.
• To explain how Venus may once have been like Earth - with oceans and a more benign climate - then subjected to a runaway greenhouse effect.