Position and Size

Venus is the second planet from the sun and is almost identical to Earth in size.

Atmosphere

Venus has a thick atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide with clouds of sulfuric acid.

Surface temperature

Venus has an extremely high surface temperature that can reach about 450 °C (842 °F).

Gravity

The gravity on Venus is about 90% of the gravity on Earth.

Rotation

Venus has a retrograde rotation, meaning that it rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets in the solar system.

Longer day than year

A day on Venus lasts longer than a year, as Venus takes about 243 Earth days to complete one revolution on its axis, while a year lasts 225 Earth days.

Dense cloud cover

Venus has a dense cloud cover consisting of thick layers of sulfuric acid clouds that create an intense greenhouse effect.

No natural satellites

Venus has no natural moons as we know it from Earth and other planets in the solar system.

Volcanism

Venus is home to a large number of volcanoes, including the majestic Mount Maat Mons and the iconic Mount Maxwell Montes, the highest mountain range on the planet.

Extreme pressure

On the surface of Venus, atmospheric pressure is about 92 times higher than on Earth, which is equivalent to the pressure on the sea floor in a deep ocean trench.

Chemical composition

Venus's surface consists primarily of basalt, a volcanic rock, and its atmosphere also contains traces of nitrogen, water vapor, and other gases.

No magnetic field

Venus does not have a significant magnetic field like Earth, making it more exposed to solar wind and cosmic radiation.

Phases like the Moon

Like the Moon, Venus also goes through phases as seen from Earth as it moves around the Sun.

Low probability of life

Because of the extreme conditions, including the toxic atmosphere and high temperatures, life as we know it is unlikely to exist on Venus.

Astronomical observations

Venus is one of the most visible planets in the night sky and is often a prominent object visible to the naked eye before dawn or after sunset.

Transit of Venus

Transit of Venus occurs when the planet passes in front of the Sun as seen from Earth. These events are relatively rare and can be seen as small black dots moving across the Sun's surface.

Exploring Venus

Several space missions have been sent to Venus to study its atmosphere, surface and geology. Some notable missions include the Venera program of the Soviet Union and NASA's Magellan mission.

Venus Express

Venus Express was a European spacecraft sent to Venus to explore its atmosphere and climate. It operated from 2006 to 2014.

Future missions

Future missions to Venus are planned, including NASA's VERITAS mission and Europe's EnVision mission, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of the planet.

Longer day than year

On Venus, a day lasts longer than a year. It takes Venus approximately 243 Earth days to complete a single revolution on its axis, while it takes approximately 225 Earth days to complete one orbit around the Sun.

Highest volcanoes

Venus has some of the tallest volcanoes in the solar system. An example is Maat Mons, which reaches a height of about 8 kilometers.

Extreme pressure

On Venus, atmospheric pressure is about 92 times higher than Earth's surface pressure. This corresponds to the pressure you would experience 900 meters underwater on Earth.

Retrograde rotation

Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets in the solar system. This retrograde rotation means that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east on Venus.

Phosphine discovery

In 2020, a controversial discovery of phosphine, a potential biomarker, was made in the atmosphere of Venus. This has increased interest in the possibility of life on the planet.

Closest neighbor to Earth

Venus is our planet Earth's closest neighbor. It is located about 40 million kilometers away at its closest point.

Atmospheric corrosion

Venus' atmosphere is extremely corrosive and can break down many materials, including metals. This makes exploring the planet a technical challenge.

Thickened atmosphere

Venus's atmosphere is about 100 times thicker than Earth's, which creates a strong greenhouse effect and results in the high surface temperature.

No natural moons

Venus has no natural moons, unlike most other planets in the solar system.

Low volcanic activity

Although Venus has volcanoes, there is little evidence of active volcanic activity in recent times.

Thick fog

Venus is shrouded in a thick fog of sulfuric acid that creates an opaque atmosphere and makes the surface invisible from space.

Extreme wind conditions

Venus experiences extremely fast wind speeds in its upper atmosphere that can reach up to 300 kilometers per hour.

Venus Transit

Venus Transit is an astronomical phenomenon where Venus passes in front of the Sun as seen from Earth. This happens in pairs every 100 years or so.

First planet visited by a space probe

Venus was the first planet to be visited by a space probe from Earth. The Soviet space probe Venera 1 reached the atmosphere of Venus in 1961.

Diameter of Venus

Venus has a diameter of approx. 12,104 kilometers, making it the second largest planet in the solar system after Jupiter.

Extreme volcanic plains

Venus has large plains that stretch for thousands of kilometers and are the result of past volcanic activity.

Extremely dense cloud cover

Venus has a thick layer of clouds that covers the entire planet. These clouds consist mainly of sulfuric acid and create a powerful greenhouse effect.

No natural satellites

Venus has no natural moons, unlike many other planets in the solar system.

Predilection for names from female mythology

Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Many geographical features on the planet are also named after female figures from various mythologies.

No magnetic field

Venus does not have a significant magnetic field like Earth. This has allowed the solar wind to influence and deflect its atmosphere over time.

No known volcanic eruptions

Although Venus has many volcanoes, there are no known reports of active volcanic eruptions in recent times.