VENUS
Planet No. 2 • Earth's Hot Neighbor
Welcome to the Venus information file! Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is almost the same size as Earth. Beneath its bright clouds is a scorching rocky world with enormous volcanoes, crushing air pressure and the hottest surface of any planet in our solar system.
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PLANET OVERVIEW
Venus is a rocky planet and Earth's closest planetary neighbor. It is sometimes called Earth's "sister planet" because the two worlds are very similar in size.
However, their environments are completely different. Venus is wrapped in a very thick atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide. Its clouds contain sulfuric acid, and its atmosphere traps enormous amounts of heat. Because of this extreme greenhouse effect, Venus is even hotter than Mercury.
However, their environments are completely different. Venus is wrapped in a very thick atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide. Its clouds contain sulfuric acid, and its atmosphere traps enormous amounts of heat. Because of this extreme greenhouse effect, Venus is even hotter than Mercury.
☀ LOCATION
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Its average distance from the Sun is about 67 million miles.
SIZE
Venus is only slightly smaller than Earth. Its diameter is about 7,521 miles, making it one of the four rocky planets of the solar system.
SURFACE
Venus has a rocky surface covered with broad plains, mountains, impact craters and thousands of volcanic features.
☁ ATMOSPHERE
Venus has an extremely thick atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide. Thick clouds hide the planet's surface from ordinary visible-light telescopes.
✦ VENUS FAST FACTS ✦
| Position from Sun | 2nd planet |
| Planet Type | Rocky / Terrestrial |
| Length of Year | About 225 Earth days |
| Moons | 0 |
| Rings | None |
| Diameter | About 7,521 miles |
| Average Surface Temperature | About 867°F / 464°C |
| Famous Feature | Thick clouds and vast volcanic landscapes |
WHAT IS VENUS LIKE?
Venus is an extremely hot and hostile world. Its thick atmosphere creates surface pressure more than 90 times greater than Earth's surface pressure.
The surface contains mountains, enormous lava plains, valleys and many volcanoes. One of its tallest mountains is Maxwell Montes. Venus also has unusual circular and oval geological structures called coronae.
The surface contains mountains, enormous lava plains, valleys and many volcanoes. One of its tallest mountains is Maxwell Montes. Venus also has unusual circular and oval geological structures called coronae.
★ DID YOU KNOW? ★
Venus rotates in the opposite direction from most of the planets! If you could stand on Venus and somehow see through the clouds, the Sun would appear to rise in the west and set in the east.
Venus rotates in the opposite direction from most of the planets! If you could stand on Venus and somehow see through the clouds, the Sun would appear to rise in the west and set in the east.
SPACECRAFT MISSION LOG
> DESTINATION: VENUS
> VENERA PROGRAM
Soviet spacecraft explored Venus, and several successfully landed on its surface.
> MAGELLAN
Used radar to map most of the Venusian surface through the planet's thick cloud cover.
> AKATSUKI
A Japanese spacecraft sent to study Venus's atmosphere, weather and cloud patterns.
> STATUS:
SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION CONTINUES...
> VENERA PROGRAM
Soviet spacecraft explored Venus, and several successfully landed on its surface.
> MAGELLAN
Used radar to map most of the Venusian surface through the planet's thick cloud cover.
> AKATSUKI
A Japanese spacecraft sent to study Venus's atmosphere, weather and cloud patterns.
> STATUS:
SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION CONTINUES...