Interpretation of the Photometric Measurements of Venus by Mariner 10

Abstract

Observations by the television system on Mariner 10 of solar radiation reflected by Venus are analyzed by means of comparisons with theoretical computations. It is found that the distribution of radiance across the planetary disc in blue and orange light cannot be explained by a single homogeneous cloud consistent with polarization measurements. Preliminary work has been done for analysis of the Mariner 10 data with a two-cloud model. It is anticipated that the data will allow the extraction of some knowledge of the variations of the optical thickness of the upper cloud, and of the relectivities of both layers.