Al-Uzza Undae
| Feature type | Dune field |
|---|---|
| Location | Venus |
| Coordinates | 67°42′N 90°30′E / 67.70°N 90.50°E[1] |
| Diameter | 150 km (93 mi) |
| Discoverer | Magellan, early 1990s |
| Naming | 1994 |
| Eponym | Ussa, an Arabian goddess |
Al-Uzza Undae is one of the two major dune fields on Venus. The dune field was named after the Ussa, an Arabian goddess of the desert.[2] The name "Al-Uzza Undae" was officially approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1994.[1] It was discovered by the NASA spacecraft Magellan, in the early 1990s.[3]
Geology and characteristics
Its coordinates are 67°42′N 90°30′E / 67.70°N 90.50°E, and it is 150 kilometres (93 mi) in diameter.[1] As of 2014, it was thought to have recent activity.[4][5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Al-Uzza Undae". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program. Retrieved 2 January 2026. (Center Latitude: 67.70°, Center Longitude: 90.50°; Planetographic, +East)
- ^ Monaghan, P. (1990). The Book of Goddesses and Heroines. St. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications.
- ^ Zimbelman, James; Titus, Timothy; Diniega, Serina; Fenton, Lori K.; Neakrase, Lynn (22 December 2021). "Planetary Dunes Tell of Otherworldly Winds". Eos.org. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Fourth International Planetary Dunes Workshop". www.hou.usra.edu. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ Lorenz, Ralph D.; Zimbelman, James R. (2014), Lorenz, Ralph D.; Zimbelman, James R. (eds.), "Venus Dunes", Dune Worlds: How Windblown Sand Shapes Planetary Landscapes, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 169–176, doi:10.1007/978-3-540-89725-5_14, ISBN 978-3-540-89725-5, retrieved 11 December 2025
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