View source for Astronomy:Alpha Regio

{{short description|Region of the planet Venus}}
{{Infobox feature on celestial object
|name        = Alpha Regio
|image       = Alpha Regio 3D.jpg
|caption     = A portion of Alpha Regio is displayed in this three-dimensional perspective view of the surface of Venus.
|type        = Regio
|coordinates = {{coord|22|S|5|E|globe:venus_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|diameter    = 1500 km
}}
'''Alpha Regio''' is a region of the planet [[Astronomy:Venus|Venus]] extending for about 1500 kilometers  centered at 22°S, 5°E. 

It was discovered and named by Richard Goldstein in 1964.<ref>Butrica, Andrew J., ''SP-4218 To See the Unseen'', [https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4218/ch5.htm ''Chapter 5: Normal Science''], NASA, 1996</ref> The name was approved by the [[Organization:International Astronomical Union|International Astronomical Union]]'s Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (IAU/WGPSN) between 1976 and 1979.<ref>Butrica, Andrew J., ''SP-4218 To See the Unseen'', [https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4218/ch6.htm ''Chapter 6: Pioneering on Venus and Mars''], NASA, 1996</ref> Maxwell Montes, Alpha Regio, and [[Astronomy:Beta Regio|Beta Regio]] are the three exceptions to the rule that the surface features of Venus are to be named for [[Biology:Female|female]]s: women or [[Philosophy:Goddess|goddess]]es.

The surface of the region is what is known as ''Tessera'',  meaning a terrain that has been highly deformed and where the deformation strikes in multiple directions and is closely spaced. The term comes from the Greek word for “tiled” (Russian investigators analyzing [[Astronomy:Venera 15|Venera 15]] and [[Astronomy:Venera 16|Venera 16]] imagery thought this terrain looked like a parquet floor). Like all ''tessera'' regions, it sits above the surrounding terrain at an elevation of 1 to 2 kilometers, and is heavily deformed by what appears to be contractional folding. Like most ''tessera'' units, the surrounding volcanic plains appear to have flowed around Alpha's margins and thus are younger than Alpha.

An infrared map prepared by the ''[[Astronomy:Venus Express|Venus Express]]'' orbiter shows that the rocks on the Alpha Regio plateau are lighter in colour and look old compared to the majority of the planet. On Earth, such light-coloured rocks are usually [[Chemistry:Granite|granite]] and form continents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://spacefellowship.com/2009/07/14/new-map-hints-at-venus-wet-volcanic-past/ |title=New map hints at Venus' wet, volcanic past {{!}} International Space Fellowship<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2009-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916195806/http://spacefellowship.com/2009/07/14/new-map-hints-at-venus-wet-volcanic-past/ |archive-date=2009-09-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Astronomy:Beta Regio|Beta Regio]]

==References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Venus}}

[[Category:Surface features of Venus]]


{{Sourceattribution|Alpha Regio}}