ALBERT

Description: A central question for any planet is the age of its surface. Based on comparative planetological arguments, Venus should be as young and active as the Earth (Wood and Francis). The detection of probable impact craters in the Venera radar images provides a tool for estimating the age of the surface of Venus. Assuming somewhat different crater production rates, Bazilevskiy et al. derived an age of 1 + or - 0.5 billion years, and Schaber et al. and Wood and Francis estimated an age of 200 to 400 million years. The known impact craters are not randomly distributed, however, thus some area must be older and others younger than this average age. Ages were derived for major geologic units on Venus using the Soviet catalog of impact craters (Bazilevskiy et al.), and the most accessible geologic unit map (Bazilevskiy). The crater counts are presented for (diameters greater than 20 km), areas, and crater densities for the 7 terrain units and coronae. The procedure for examining the distribution of craters is superior to the purely statistical approaches of Bazilevskiy et al. and Plaut and Arvidson because the bins are larger (average size 16 x 10(6) sq km) and geologically significant. Crater densities define three distinct groups: relatively heavily cratered (Lakshmi, mountain belts), moderately cratered (smooth and rolling plains, ridge belts, and tesserae), and essentially uncratered (coronae and domed uplands). Following Schaber et al., Grieve's terrestrial cratering rate of 5.4 + or - 2.7 craters greater than 20 km/10(9) yrs/10(6) sq km was used to calculate ages for the geologic units on Venus. To improve statistics, the data was aggregated into the three crater density groups, deriving the ages. For convenience, the three similar age groups are given informal time stratigraphic unit names, from youngest to oldest: Ulfrunian, Sednaian, Lakshmian.

Description: An independent survey of 60% of Venus has resulted in the detection of 35 impact basins and associated transitional rings. Contrary to previous studies central peak basins have been identified, as well as peak ring basins. But no unambiguous multi-ring basins have been detected. A new class of crateriform - expanded peak structure - has been noticed, which is transitional in diameter, but apparently not in structure, between central peak and peak ring basins.

Description: Distance learning is not new. Since the time that radio has embellished our culture distance learning has taken on may forms. With the onset of television, video tape and satellite link ups the world of multimedia has taken a presence in our remote learning environment. Now in the information age new models for bring the best education to people through out the world is in its early stages. Recent "Information Age" technological developments have made key advancements to distance learning through the greater bandwidths now available over the Internet and a broader communications infrastructure that extends to classrooms throughout the country and the world. Further, new software compression technology allows audio and video to be communicated over the Internet much more efficiently. Larger amounts of data can be transferred to remote sites at less cost. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of state-of-art technology in the educational community. The focus will be on virtual conferences, virtual instruction and remote education. The techniques herein have been developed by NASA and the University of North Dakota(UND) through the use of existing software and hardware purchased in the United States. NASA has awarded UND a grant for continued research in this area based on their pioneering effort to date. NASA has been conducting "Virtual Conferences" from Ames Research Center in order to make unique educational opportunities available to participants across the country and internationally. Through the use of this technical approach, hundreds of teachers have been able to attend events where physical or financial barriers traditionally prevented their attendance. This technique is currently being adopted by industry due to its scaleable merit.

Description: Observational evidence which supports the contention that Venus is a volcanically and tectonically active planet is discussed. It is argued that, although there are no observations to date that would prove that Venus has been volcanically active during the last decade, planetological studies presented evidence for youthful volcanic mountains on Venus: the surface of the northern quarter of Venus is considered to be younger than 1 Gy, and some units are likely to be much younger. Because of the small sizes of likely volcanic manifestations and the long intervals expected between eruptions, it is unlikely that any direct evidence of eruptions will be detected with existing and planned spacecraft. It is suggested that future studies of the dynamics and the chemical mixing of the Venusian atmosphere might supply an unequivocal evidence for active volcanism on this planet.