VIRTIS images of the clouds that MESSENGER flew over

The images in this panel were obtained by the VIRTIS imaging spectrometer on board Venus Express on 5 and 6 June 2007, before and after MESSENGER’s closest approach to the planet.

These panels from VIRTIS provide a night-side view of the same region that Messenger flew over and imaged.

The images where obtained at 1.7 micrometres, revealing atmospheric details down to an altitude of 50 km from the surface.

Two stills from these images can be downloaded here [ VI0410_00_prj_17.tif, VI0411_03_prj_17.tif ]