Venus

Venus is the second planet from the sun in the solar-system and is the planet closest in size to earth. It is sometimes called Earth’s 'sister planet' because they are nearly the same in diameter and mass. Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. From Earth, it appears as one of the brightest objects in the sky and is often visible shortly before sunrise or after sunset, earning it the names morning star and evening star.

Venus has a rocky surface like mercury, Earth, and mars, which makes it a terrestrial planet. Its diameter is about 12,100 kilometers, only slightly smaller than Earth’s. However, Venus is covered by thick clouds of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid that reflect sunlight and make it very bright. These clouds trap heat through the greenhouse effect, making Venus the hottest planet in the Solar System with surface temperatures reaching about 465°C, hot enough to melt lead.

A day on Venus is very long. It takes about 243 Earth days for Venus to rotate once on its axis, which means one day on Venus is longer than its year. Its year, or one orbit around the Sun, lasts about 225 Earth days. Venus also rotates in the opposite direction of most other planets, meaning the Sun appears to rise in the west and set in the east when viewed from its surface.

Because of its thick clouds, scientists cannot see Venus’s surface directly using telescopes. Radar instruments, however, have mapped the surface and found mountains, valleys, and large flat plains. Venus has many volcanoes, some of which may still be active. It does not have any moons or rings, and its air pressure is about 90 times stronger than Earth’s, making it impossible for humans or regular spacecraft to survive on the surface for long periods.

space missions have helped scientists learn about Venus. The first spacecraft to visit was Mariner 2 in 1962. Later missions, such as Venera from the Soviet Union and NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, provided more detailed data and radar maps. Future missions plan to study how Venus’s climate became so extreme and how it differs from Earth’s.

Venus plays an important role in helping scientists understand planets, atmospheres, and climate. Though it looks beautiful in the sky, its harsh environment makes it one of the most extreme worlds in our Solar System.