Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is the hottest planet in our solar system. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Venus is often called Earth's sister planet because of their similar size, composition, and proximity to the Sun.

Physical Characteristics

• Size: Venus is similar in size to Earth, with a diameter of about 12,104 kilometers.
• Atmosphere: Venus has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with clouds of sulfuric acid.
• Surface: The surface of Venus is rocky and covered with volcanoes, impact craters, and vast plains.
• Temperature: Venus has an extremely high surface temperature, reaching up to 471 degrees Celsius (880 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the hottest planet in the solar system.

Orbit and Rotation

• Orbit: Venus orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 108 million kilometers.
• Rotation: Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation.
• Day and Night: A day on Venus (one rotation) is longer than a year on Venus, with the planet taking about 243 Earth days to complete one rotation.

Exploration

Several spacecraft have been sent to study Venus, including the Venera and Magellan missions, which provided valuable data about the planet's surface and atmosphere. NASA and other space agencies continue to study Venus to better understand its unique characteristics.