RASCTO Speaker's Night: Venus: From Earth’s Twin to a World Apart [Online Only]

Speaker: Megan Russell, Research Associate, Planetary Science Institute

Title: Venus: From Earth’s Twin to a World Apart

Abstract: 

In this talk, Megan will explore long-standing fascination with the planet Venus and how early speculation of an Earth-like world gave way to a very different picture. The first space missions to Venus in the 1960s revealed a planet shaped by extreme greenhouse conditions, crushing surface pressure and a complex surface dominated by volcanoes, far from the Earth-like twin once hoped for. After decades without dedicated missions, Venus exploration is poised to resume in the 2030s through new efforts by the European Space Agency and (hopefully) NASA. What more do we hope to learn during this next generation of exploration?

Speaker Bio: 

Since starting at the Colorado office of the Planetary Science Institute, Megan Russell's research has spanned volcanism on Venus to the characterization of ice on Mars. Megan serves on the science and operations teams for the SHARAD instrument aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a spacecraft that is currently orbiting the planet Mars, and supports the science team for VenSAR on ESA’s upcoming EnVision mission to Venus. Her research also includes projects focused on Mars, Venus, and the Moon.

After completing a Space Science degree at York University in Toronto, Megan joined PhotoSat, an Earth remote sensing company in Vancouver, as a Project Manager. She then went on to complete her Master of Science degree in Geophysics and Planetary Science at the University of British Columbia with Dr. Catherine L. Johnson.

Most of her research uses data from satellites. For example, geophysical investigations on the planet Venus were carried out using observations collected from orbit during the Magellan mission (operating at Venus from 1990-1994) to help characterize the surface and subsurface. The radar instrument used to collect this data was special in that it could see through the thick atmosphere of Venus.

Megan loves all the typical Colorado activities: rock climbing, hiking, river stuff, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice climbing and also martial arts.

Who can attend: Everyone

Fee: Free

Registration: Not required

Organized by: RASC, Toronto Centre

Link: https://www.youtube.com/rasctoronto/live