Gallery: Views of Venus

News
By published

Golden Globe

Venus view from the Magellan mission.

(Image credit: NASA/JPL)

Transit of Venus

Transit of Venus across the sun.

(Image credit: NASA)

In 2004, Venus passed across the face of the sun. June 5, 2012 is the last transit of Venus until 2117.

One of the first photographs of the transit of Venus 1882.

One of the first photographs of the transit of Venus 1882.

(Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Sun-Earth Day)

One of the first photographs of the transit of Venus 1882.

President Obama Spots Venus and the Moon

President Obama Spots Venus and the Moon

(Image credit: whitehouse.gov)

President Obama spotted Venus and the moon on April 24, 2012 at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado. Venus was at peak brightness that week.

Colorful Venus

Elevation map of the planet Venus.

(Image credit: NASA/JPL/USGS)

This composite image of Venus uses colors to represent the planet's topography.

Cloudy Venus

Clouds on the planet venus

(Image credit: NASA)

A thick blanket of clouds obscures Venus' surface. The Pioneer Venus orbiter snapped this image in 1979.

X-Ray Venus

Venus in x-ray light.

(Image credit: Chandra X-ray Observatory)

This image, taken in 2001 by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, was the first-ever view of Venus on the x-ray wavelength.

Venus Transit of Sun

Venus Transit of Sun

(Image credit: Giovanni Paglioli, Centro Astronomico Neil Armstrong (Salerno))

Giovanni Paglioli took this image on June 8, 2004 from Centro Astronomico Neil Armstrong in Salerno, Italy. The transit, or passage, of Venus across the face of the Sun is one of nature’s rarest celestial phenomena.

earthshine moon mercury venus

earthshine moon mercury venus

(Image credit: ESO/B. Tafreshi/TWAN)

The crescent moon and earthshine over the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory. This picture was taken on 27 October 2011 and also records the planets Mercury and Venus.

Venus Transit 2004 Wilce

Venus Transit 2004 Wilce

(Image credit: Michael Wilce)

Michael Wilce of Central London, UK took 20 composite shots to create this image of the Venus transit on June 8, 2004.

Mysterious Venus

Arachnoids on Venus' surface.

(Image credit: Magellan/JPL/NASA)

This image shows arachnoids on Venus. Don't panic -- we're not talking about alien spiders. Arachnoids are large, concentric oval structures on the planet's surface, surrounded by networks of fractures. Scientists aren't sure how these arachnoids originate.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.