 The rift valleyDevana Chasma, 1050 km long and 80 to 240 km wide, in Beta Regio (28°N, 283°E) | |
| Feature type | Regio |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 25°18′N282°48′E / 25.3°N 282.8°E /25.3; 282.8 |
| Eponym | Beta |
Beta Regio is a region of the planetVenus known as avolcanic rise. Measuring about 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) in extent, it constitutes a prominent upland region of Venus centered at25°18′N282°48′E / 25.3°N 282.8°E /25.3; 282.8.[1]
The first features that showed up in early radar surveys of the planet were given the names of letters of theGreek alphabet. Beta Regio was one of those features. It was discovered and named byDick Goldstein in 1964.[2] The name was approved by theInternational Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (IAU/WGPSN) between 1976 and 1979.[3]Maxwell Montes,Alpha Regio, and Beta Regio are the three exceptions to the rule that the surface features of Venus are to be named forwomen orgoddesses.
Volcanic rises are broad, sloping highlands over 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) across. They are cut by deep troughs 100–200 kilometres (62–124 miles) across. These troughs are an example of continental rifting, and are evidence of surfacetectonism.
Beta Regio is cut by a radar-bright north–south trough calledDevana Chasma. The northern end has a volcano calledRhea Mons, and the southern end is dominated by a volcano titledTheia Mons.[4]
