COLLECTION NAME:
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection
Record
Title:
Venus: Just Passing By
Explanation:
Venus, the second closest planet [ http://nssdc.gsfc.n… venusfact.html ] to the Sun, is by far the brightest of the three planets gathered in this weekend's [ http://science.nasa… 22jun_spectacular.htm ] western sky at sunset. It has also proven to be a popular way-point [ http://antwrp.gsfc.… ] for spacecraft headed for the gas giant [ http://antwrp.gsfc.… ] planets in the outer reaches of the solar system. Why visit Venus [ http://seds.lpl.ari… venus.html ] first? Using a gravity assist [ http://www.jpl.nasa… bsf4-1.htm#gravity ] maneuver, spacecraft can swing by planets and gain energy during their brief encounter, saving fuel for use at the end of their long interplanetary voyage. This colorized image [ http://photojournal… ] of Venus was recorded by the Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft shortly after its gravity assist flyby of Venus in February of 1990. Galileo's glimpse of the veiled planet [ http://antwrp.gsfc.… ] shows structure in swirling sulfuric acid clouds. The bright area is sunlight glinting [ http://coolcosmos.i… venus_sky.shtml ] off the upper cloud deck.
Credit and Copyright:
Galileo Project [ http://galileo.jpl.… ], JPL [ http://www.jpl.nasa… ], NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov… ]
facet_when:
1990
facet_where:
Arizona
facet_what:
Galileo
facet_when_year:
1990
UID:
SPD-APOD-ap050625
Link To Source