Size: 12000 km (0.949 Earths)‏ Orbit: 108,208,930 km (0.723 AU)‏ Venus Size: 12000 km (0.949 Earths)‏ Orbit: 108,208,930 km (0.723 AU)‏

A Venus day is longer than a Venus year! Orbit 1 Venus year = 224 Earth days I Venus day = 243 Earth days A Venus day is longer than a Venus year! Venus rotates on its axis the opposite direction of the Earth. This means that on Venus, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east!

Location Venus is the second closest planet to the Sun in our Solar System. Venus is a terrestrial planet because it has a solid, rocky surface, like Mercury, Earth and Mars.

History Astronomers have known Venus for thousands of years. The ancient Romans named it after their goddess Venus.

The Morning Star Venus is the brightest thing in the night sky except for the Moon. It is sometimes called the morning star or the evening star as it is brightest just before the sun comes up in the morning, and just after the sun goes down in the evening.

Atmosphere Venus' atmosphere or air is mostly thick sulphuric acid, and carbon dioxide. Sulphuric acid is a chemical that is very poisonous to humans. The thick atmosphere makes it hard to see the surface, and until the twenty-first century many people thought things might live there. The pressure on Venus' surface is 92 times that of Earth.

Temperature Venus is much hotter than Earth. All the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts like a blanket, trapping heat from the Sun. It is a very powerful "greenhouse effect". This makes Venus the hottest planet in the Solar System with an average temperature of 480 degrees. This is hot enough to melt lead. The surface of Venus is almost the same everywhere.

Mapping It is impossible to look at the planet's surface from space as the thick cloud layer reflects 60% of the light that hits it. The only way scientists have been able to look is by using infrared and ultraviolet cameras.

Surface Venus' surface is about 80% smooth, rocky plains. Two higher areas called continents make up the north and south of the planet. The north is called Ishtar Terra and the south is called Aphrodite Terra. They are named after the Babylonian and Greek goddesses of love.

Of the ones that landed, the longest lasted 2 hours. Exploration Russian Venera Program Sent 27 probes, 1961-1983. 13 of them made it to Venus. Of the ones that landed, the longest lasted 2 hours.

Magellan On August 10, 1990, the US Magellan probe arrived at its orbit around the planet and started a mission of detailed radar mapping. After a four-year mission, Magellan, as planned, plunged into the atmosphere on October 11, 1994.

Venus Express Venus Express is a mission prepared by the European Space Agency to study the atmosphere and surface of Venus from orbit. The probe successfully assumed orbit around Venus on April 11, 2006. The mapping mission is expected to last for two Venusian years (about 500 Earth days).