A combination of striking photos and lucid prose, this volume brings this mysterious planet to life. Well-known astronomers Peter Cattermole and Patrick Moore place Venus in the solar system and explain what information telescope observation has yielded. They then take us on a space-age trip to Venus exhibiting observations from orbiting space craft and probes, and, most significantly, the data-laden Magellan mission. An abundance of colorful illustrations showcase Venus' fascinating topography, including impact craters, highland massifs, and plains. The text is rounded out by a history of this intriguing planet and a gazetteer of Venusian place names. Several useful appendices of data complement the atlas. This book will delight amateur astonomers and will also serve as a helpful reference to professional astronomers and planetary scientists.