Atlas of Venus

Amateur astronomers will enjoy Atlas of Venus, the most up-to-date book available on the geography and geology of Earth's non-identical twin planet. This colorful compendium of maps and pictures draws heavily from the Magellan spacecraft's radar imaging, some of it published here for the first time. As the authors point out, we have learned more about Venus in the last few decades--perhaps even in the last few years--than throughout the whole of human history. It's hardly the tropical paradise of 1950s science fiction, but a harsh world that may never witness human exploration due to the severity of its environment. In a way, its truly alien qualities make Venus all the more enticing.