Ven Sli

10 Things to Know About Venus

1: EARTH-SIZED

If the sun were as tall as a typical front door, the Earth and Venus would each be about the size of a nickel.  

2: SECOND ROCK

Venus orbits our Sun, a star. Venus is the second closest planet to the sun at a distance of about 67 million miles (108 million km).

3:A DAY LONGER THAN A YEAR

One day on Venus lasts 243 Earth days because Venus spins backwards, with its sun rising in the west and setting in the east.

4: DIVERSE TERRAIN

Venus' solid surface is a volcanic landscape covered with extensive plains featuring high volcanic mountains and vast ridged plateaus.

5: MOONLESS AND RINGLESS

Venus has no moons and no rings.

6: GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The planet’s surface temperature is about 900 degrees Fahrenheit (465 degrees Celsius)—hot enough to melt lead.

7:WATER ON VENUS

Many scientists believe water once existed on the surface. Future Venus explorers will search for evidence of an ancient ocean.

8:MANY VISITORS

More than 40 spacecraft have explored Venus. The ‘90s Magellan mission mapped the planet's surface and Akatsuki is currently orbiting Venus.

9:LIFE ON VENUS

Venus’ extreme temperatures and acidic clouds make it an unlikely place for life as we know it.

10:SUPER ROTATING ATMOSPHERE

While the surface rotates slowly, the winds blow at hurricane force, sending clouds completely around the planet every five days.