Venus: The Earth's Sister Planet

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is often referred to as Earth's sister planet due to their similar size and composition. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Venus is often called the "morning star" or the "evening star" because it is one of the brightest objects in the sky.

Physical Characteristics

Venus is similar in size and mass to Earth. It has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with clouds of sulfuric acid. The surface of Venus is rocky and is covered in various volcanic and tectonic features, including large shield volcanoes and extensive lava plains.

Study Guide

1. Orbit and Rotation: Venus orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 67 million miles. Its rotation is unique in that it rotates on its axis in the opposite direction to most planets, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation.
2. Atmosphere: The atmosphere of Venus is extremely dense and is composed mainly of carbon dioxide with clouds of sulfuric acid. The thick atmosphere creates a strong greenhouse effect, resulting in surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead.
3. Surface Features: Venus has a surface marked by extensive volcanism, with large shield volcanoes and vast lava plains. It also has numerous tectonic features, including rifts, faults, and highland regions.
4. Missions to Venus: Several space missions have been sent to Venus to study its atmosphere and surface, including the Soviet Venera and Vega missions, as well as more recent missions such as NASA's Magellan and the European Space Agency's Venus Express.
5. Comparisons to Earth: Despite its similarities in size and mass, Venus has a very different climate and geology compared to Earth. Understanding these differences can provide insights into the factors that shape planetary environments.

Studying Venus provides valuable insights into the processes that shape planetary atmospheres and surfaces, as well as the potential effects of greenhouse gases on a planetary scale.