The surface features and topology of Venus have been determined primarily by
A) radar methods from Earth and from Venus-orbiting spacecraft detecting reflected radio and microwaves from the surface.
B) surface-lander vehicles that have explored the surface.
C) visible light and UV photography from the Hubble Space Telescope and Earth-bound telescopes.
D) balloon-borne spacecraft launched into the Venus atmosphere by spacecraft.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radar methods from Earth and from orbiting spacecraft have been the primary means of determining the surface features and topology of Venus. These methods involve detecting reflected radio and microwaves from the surface, which can penetrate through the thick Venusian atmosphere. Surface-lander vehicles have also been used, but their coverage has been limited. Visible light and UV photography have not been effective because of the thick atmosphere, and balloon-borne spacecraft have primarily studied the atmosphere itself rather than the surface.

The Surface Features and Topology of Venus Have Been Determined