In astrogeology, an arachnoid is a large structure of unknown origin that have been found only on the surface of Venus. Arachnoids get their name from their resemblance to spider webs. They appear as concentric ovals surrounded by a complex network of fractures, and can span 200 kilometers. Over thirty arachnoids have been identified on Venus, so far. The arachnoid might be a strange relative to the volcano, but possibly different arachnoids are formed by different processes.
This article incorporates text from a public-domain NASA website.
Last updated: 08-04-2005 18:16:54