Venus
Did You Know?
Venus is the hottest planet in our Solar System at 471°C (880°F)!
Earth's Twin
Venus is often called Earth's twin because it's similar in size and composition. However, Venus is a hellish world with surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead. The planet is shrouded in thick clouds of sulfuric acid, and its atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide. Despite being farther from the Sun than Mercury, Venus is hotter due to its runaway greenhouse effect.
Hostile Environment
Venus has the most hostile environment of any planet in our Solar System. The surface pressure is equivalent to being 900 meters (3,000 feet) underwater on Earth. The thick atmosphere traps heat, creating a runaway greenhouse effect. Rain on Venus is made of sulfuric acid, and the surface is covered with volcanic features. Spacecraft that have landed on Venus have only survived for a few hours before being crushed and melted.
Retrograde Rotation
Venus rotates backwards compared to most planets. A day on Venus (243 Earth days) is longer than its year (225 Earth days). This retrograde rotation means the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east on Venus. Scientists believe a massive collision in Venus's past may have caused this unusual rotation.
Amazing Facts
Venus is the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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Venus has over 1,600 volcanoes
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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Venus rotates once every 243 Earth days
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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Venus has no moons
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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