PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011


PHOTO CAPTION

                                           Magellan
                                           P38720 MGN76
                                           October 29, 1991

    A portion of western Eistla Regio is displayed in this,
three-dimensional perspective view of the surface of Venus.  The
viewpoint is located 1,310 kilometers (812 miles) southwest of
Gula Mons at an elevation of 0.78 kilometer (0.48 mile). The view
is to the northeast with Gula Mons appearing on the horizon. Gula
Mons, a 3 kilometer (1.86 mile) high volcano, is located at
approximately 22 degrees north latitude, 359 degrees east
longitude. The impact crater Cunitz, named for the astronomer and
mathematician Maria Cunitz, is visible in the center of the
image. The crater is 48.5 kilometers (30 miles) in diameter and
is 215 kilometers (133 miles) from the viewer's position.
Magellan synthetic aperture radar data is combined with radar
altimetry to develop a three-dimensional map of the surface. Rays
cast in a computer intersect the surface to create a three-
dimensional perspective view. Simulated color and a digital
elevation map developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, are used
to enhance small-scale structure. The simulated hues are based on
color images recorded by the Soviet Venera 13 and 14 spacecraft.
The image was produced at the JPL Multimission Image Processing
Laboratory and is a single frame from a video released at the
March 5, 1991, JPL news conference.