NSOMEKA PLANITIA, HENIE QUADRANT, VENUS

The planet Venus has 81.5 % mass, 95.5 % density, and 95% the mean radius when compared to Earth; there is good reason why it has been regarded as Earth’s sister planet and is of particular interest. This project is part of a collaborative effort called the ‘Venus Global Dyke Swarm Mapping Project” (VGDSMP) headed by Richard Ernst (Carleton University, Ottowa). Its purpose is to complete a global map of graben-fissure systems of the planet, therefore providing a more in-depth understanding of the magmatic and tectonic history of this terrestrial, rocky planet.

The studied area is found within the low lands of the Nsomeka Planitia (170-180^O E, 50-60^O S), which resides in the southern hemispheres, Heine quadrangle (V-58). The studied data was collected from the Magellan mission which was launched in 1989 and ran until 1994. With this data, it has been possible to map out surficial features as corona, wrinkle ridges, graben/fissure systems, and other magmatic related features. Through the study of cross-cutting relationships, it has been determined the relative ages of these features and therefore magmatic events.