HIGH RESOLUTION RADIO OBSERVATIONS OF PLANET VENUS AT A WAVE LENGTH OF 6 CM

The Cambridge One-Mile radio telescope has been used at a wavelength of 6 cm to obtain maps of the planet Venus with a resolution of 6 x 21 arc. A number of possible models for the atmosphere of Venus are considered, and it appears that the surface pressure is 110 ±15 atmospheres and the surface temperature 790 ± 20°K. Approximately 0.4 per cent water vapour is present in the lower atmosphere. Some features are found on the disc of the planet, and temperature variations of up to 50 °K may occur over the surface of Venus. © Royal Astronomical Society.