Gravity, topography, and crustal evolution of Venus

A method for estimating radial gravity anomalies from line-of-sight acceleration data, their interpolation, and the use of iteration for improved radial anomaly estimates is outlined. Results based on spherical harmonic coefficients for Venus' gravitational field are first discussed, and the procedure is then presented for determining radial acceleration estimates from the line-of-sight vectors and for interpolating the results at preselected locations using the method of objective mapping. A preliminary gravity anomaly map of much of the surface of Venus based on the first estimation step of this technique is presented, and the results are discussed.