JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109

PHOTO CAPTION                                MAGELLAN
                                             P-36644  MGN-12
                                             9/17/90

     On September 15, 1990, the Magellan spacecraft started radar
operations for its mapping mission at Venus.  This image is taken
from the first set of radar data collected in the normal operating
mode.  These fault-bounded troughs were imaged by Magellan on orbit
147 on September 15, 1990.  The image is of part of the Lavinia
Region of Venus at 60 degrees south latitude, 347 degrees east
longitude. The image is 28 kilometers (17 miles) wide and 75
kilometers (46 miles) long.  This region is at the intersection of
two tectonic trends. An extensive set of east-west trending
fractures extends to the west (left) and a second set extends down
to the south-southeast (lower right).  The lines of pits suggest
some igneous or volcanic activity accompanying the faulting.  The
prominent trough trending diagonally across the image is 5
kilometers (3.1 miles) wide and is 100 to 200 meters (300 to 600
feet) deep.