What is Venus?

Overview

Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is Earth's closest neighbor and twin in size, but its extreme conditions make it a hellish world.

  • Diameter: 12,104 km
  • Distance from Sun: 108 million km
  • Mass: 4.87 x 10²⁴ kg
  • Orbit Period: 225 days
  • Rotation Period: 243 days
Venus radar map from Magellan

Image credit: NASA/JPL

Details

Atmosphere: Thick and toxic, 96% carbon dioxide with sulfuric acid clouds, creating a greenhouse effect and surface pressure 92 times Earth's.

Moons: None; Venus has no natural satellites.

Surface: Volcanic plains, mountains, and vast lava flows, with temperatures averaging 464°C (867°F).

Exploration: Probed by Venera landers (USSR) and Magellan, which mapped its surface through radar.

Fun Fact: Venus rotates backward (east to west), and its day is longer than its year.