https://www.planetary.org/articles/every-picture-from-venus-surface-ever Skip to main content Community Account Renew Search Planetary Society logo Planetary Society logo * Our Work * Explore Space * Take Action * About * * * Donate * Join * Search * Menu Join * Become A Member * Renew * Gift Membership * Kids Membership * Other Ways to Give Donate Join Donate Back To Main Menu * What We Do + hand reaching toward planetExplore Worlds + hand pointing to dnaFind Life + fist blocking meteorDefend Earth * How We Work + Education & Public Outreach + Space Policy & Advocacy + Science & Technology + Global Collaboration * Our Results + Our Impact Learn how our members and community are changing the worlds. + LightSail Our citizen-funded spacecraft successfully demonstrated solar sailing for CubeSats. Back To Main Menu * Space Topics + Planets & Other Worlds + Space Missions + Night Sky + Space Policy + For Kids * Learn + Articles + Planetary Radio + Space Images + Videos + Courses * The Planetary Report robotic eel on snow AI in Space How artificial intelligence will shape the future of exploration. Back To Main Menu * Get Involved + Become A Member Membership programs for explorers of all ages. + Email Signup Get updates and weekly tools to learn, share, and advocate for space exploration. + Action Center Volunteer as a space advocate. * Support Our Mission + Renew Membership + Society Projects + Travel + Other Ways to Give + Store * The Planetary Fund Europa mosaic Accelerate progress in our three core enterprises -- Explore Worlds, Find Life, and Defend Earth. You can support the entire fund, or designate a core enterprise of your choice. Give Today Back To Main Menu * About Us + Overview + Strategic Framework + News & Press + Careers + Contact Us + Our Story * The Planetary Society The Planetary Society founders Our Vision Know the cosmos and our place within it. Our Mission Empowering the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. Back To Main Menu * Membership + Become A Member + Renew Membership + Gift Membership + Kids Membership + Other Ways to Give + Contact Us * Our Work * Explore Space * Take Action * About * Membership * Member Community * Account Center * Search * * "Exploration is in our nature." - Carl Sagan * [ ] * The Planetary Report March Equinox 2021 From Our Member Magazine Every picture from Venus' surface, ever Only four spacecraft have ever returned images from Venus' surface. The world next door doesn't make it easy, with searing heat and crushing pressure that quickly destroy any lander. In 1975 and 1982, four of the Soviet Union's Venera probes captured our only images of Venus' surface. The Veneras, which mean "Venus" in Russian, scanned the surface back and forth to create panoramic images of their surroundings. They revealed yellow skies and cracked, desolate landscapes that were both alien and familiar--views of a world that may have once been like Earth before experiencing catastrophic climate change. Ted Stryk, a philosophy professor at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, specializes in reconstructing images from early space missions. Using data from the Russian Academy of Sciences, he has over time reconstructed the best-possible versions of the original Venera panoramas. Venus surface panorama from Venera 9 Venus surface panorama from Venera 9 This 1975 panorama from the Soviet Union's Venera 9 probe includes the first images ever taken from the surface of another planet.Image: Russian Academy of Sciences / Ted Stryk Venus surface panorama from Venera 10 Venus surface panorama from Venera 10 The Soviet Union's Venera 10 probe captured this panorama of Venus's surface in 1975.Image: Russian Academy of Sciences / Ted Stryk Venus surface panorama from Venera 13 front camera Venus surface panorama from Venera 13 front camera The Soviet Union's Venera 13 probe captured two color panoramas of Venus's surface in 1982. This panorama came from the front camera.Image: Russian Academy of Sciences / Ted Stryk Venus surface panorama from Venera 13 rear camera Venus surface panorama from Venera 13 rear camera The Soviet Union's Venera 13 probe captured two color panoramas of Venus's surface in 1982. This panorama came from the rear camera.Image: Russian Academy of Sciences / Ted Stryk Venus surface panorama from Venera 14 front camera Venus surface panorama from Venera 14 front camera The Soviet Union's Venera 14 probe captured two color panoramas of Venus's surface in 1982. This panorama came from the front camera.Image: Russian Academy of Sciences / Ted Stryk Venus surface panorama from Venera 14 rear camera Venus surface panorama from Venera 14 rear camera The Soviet Union's Venera 14 probe captured two color panoramas of Venus's surface in 1982. This panorama came from the rear camera.Image: Russian Academy of Sciences / Ted Stryk This content is hosted by a third party (youtube.com), which uses marketing cookies. Please accept marketing cookies to watch this video. Support NASA science funding this year Urge your representatives in Congress to support a budget for NASA science that ensures balance of space exploration initiatives and upholds the vision of the Decadal Survey. Take a Stand for Our Future in Space Take action for space exploration! Give today to have your gift matched up to $75,000. Donate Planetary Report March Equinox 2021 Cover The Planetary Report * March Equinox View Table of Contents Help advance space science and exploration! Become a member of The Planetary Society and you'll receive the full PDF and print versions of The Planetary Report. Read more: Inner solar system missions, Space missions, Venera program, Venus, Worlds You are here: Home > Articles Ted Stryk Ted Stryk Professor of philosophy and amateur image processor for Roane State Community College Read more articles by Ted Stryk Related Articles Swan 25f dan bartlett How to spot comet SWAN (C/2025 F2) Asa Stahl Eels artists concept EELS and the future of exploration Kate Howells Margaret hamilton code Computing in space exploration history Kate Howells Become A Member When you become a member, you join our mission to increase discoveries in our solar system and beyond, elevate the search for life outside our planet, and decrease the risk of Earth being hit by an asteroid. Your role in space exploration starts now. $4/month $10/month $20/month $40/month Get More Space In Your Inbox Sign up for updates, weekly tools, and exclusive opportunities to support space exploration. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [*] Subscribe You may opt out any time. View our Privacy Policy. * Explore Space * Planets & Other Worlds * Space Missions * Night Sky * Space Policy * For Kids + Learn + Articles + Planetary Radio + Space Images + Videos + Courses + The Planetary Report o Get Involved o Action Center o Email Signup o Become A Member o Contact # Give # Renew Membership # Support A Project # Shop to Support # Travel # Other Ways to Give The Planetary Society logo Empowering the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. @ @ @ @ @ @ Account Center * Contact Us * Privacy Policy Charity Navigator four starsGuidestar logo Give with confidence. The Planetary Society is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. (c) 2025 The Planetary Society. All rights reserved. Cookie Declaration For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.