- Venus is the closest planet to Earth, and is sometimes called Earth’s “twin” or “sister planet”. This is because the two planets are similar in size and gravity (the Earth is only 644km bigger than Venus). However, the two planets are very different in other ways.
- Venus is the brightest planet in the sky. The terms “Morning Star” and “Evening Star” both refer to Venus, which ancient astronomers considered different objects.
- Venus and Mercury are called “inferior planets”. This is because they lie between the Sun and the Earth. The other major planets are called “superior planets”.
- Venus spins very slowly, with one day on Venus lasting 243 Earth days. It also spins in the opposite direction to most planets.
- Venus is known for having a circular orbit around the Sun, with very little eccentricity.
- Venus has no satellites of its own.
- Venus is uninhabitable – very hot and very dry, and covered by thick spinning clouds composed of sulfuric acid. This results in acid rain, which evaporates before it hits the planet’s surface. Venus is also known for its landscapes, volcanoes and craters.
- Venus’s atmosphere is very dense, and is mostly made up of carbon dioxide.
- Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty (Aphrodite is the Greek equivalent). In fact, the majority of Venus’s features are named after women.
Sources
Venus, World Book at NASA website, accessed: 15th March 2009, author: Head, J.W.
Venus, The Nine Planets website, accessed: 15th March 2009, author: Arnett, B.
Venus Introduction, Views of the Solar System website, accessed: 15th March 2009, author: Hamilton, C.
All About Venus, Space.com website, accessed: 15th March 2009, no author specified.
Understanding the Solar System, Astronomy Magazine website, accessed: 15th March 2009, author: Talcott, R.
Teach Tourself Planets (Teach Yourself)
