Venus UnVeiled . ... Credit Copyright: NASA , Magellan Project Explanation: The surface of Venus is perpetually covered by a veil of thick clouds and remains hidden from even the powerful telescopic eyes of earth-based astronomers. ... The bright area running across the middle of this picture represents the largest highland region of Venus known as Aphrodite Terra. The large highland regions are analogous to continents on Earth. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . ...