Venus

Planet Venus – Geography, Distance from the Sun, and Key Features

Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is often called Earth’s “sister planet” because of its similar size, mass, and composition. Despite these similarities, the conditions on Venus are vastly different, making it one of the most hostile environments in the Solar System. Orbiting at an average distance of about 108.2 million kilometers (67.24 million miles) from the Sun, Venus completes one revolution around our star in 225 Earth days. It is the brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon, earning it the nicknames “Morning Star” and “Evening Star.”

Geography and Surface Conditions
Venus has a diameter of 12,104 kilometers, about 95% that of Earth, and a surface area of 460 million square kilometers. Its surface is rocky and shaped by extensive volcanic activity, with vast plains, towering mountains, and immense lava flows. Some volcanoes, like Maat Mons, rise over 8 kilometers high, and evidence suggests that volcanic eruptions may still occur today.

Unlike Earth, Venus has no oceans or rivers—its water likely evaporated early in its history due to a runaway greenhouse effect. The planet’s surface is dominated by basaltic rock and scattered impact craters, although fewer than expected because the dense atmosphere shields it from smaller meteoroids.

Atmosphere and Climate
The atmosphere of Venus is incredibly thick, composed mainly of carbon dioxide (about 96.5%) with clouds of sulfuric acid. This dense atmosphere traps heat efficiently, creating an extreme surface temperature of around 465°C (869°F)—hotter than Mercury, even though Venus is farther from the Sun. The atmospheric pressure is about 92 times greater than Earth’s, equivalent to being nearly 900 meters underwater.

The planet also has high-altitude winds that can reach 360 kilometers per hour, circulating around the planet in just four Earth days. However, surface winds are slow due to the dense air.

Rotation and Orbit Peculiarities
One of Venus’s most unusual traits is its retrograde rotation—it spins in the opposite direction to most planets in the Solar System. This means the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east. A day on Venus (one full rotation) lasts about 243 Earth days, making a Venusian day longer than its year.

Magnetic Field and Internal Structure
Venus has a weak, induced magnetic field generated by interactions between the solar wind and its ionosphere. This differs from Earth’s strong magnetic field, which is created by a molten, convecting outer core. Venus’s internal structure is thought to include a metallic core, rocky mantle, and crust similar to Earth’s, though the exact composition and state of the core remain uncertain.

Exploration and Scientific Importance
Venus has been studied extensively by spacecraft such as NASA’s Magellan, ESA’s Venus Express, and JAXA’s Akatsuki. Understanding Venus is crucial to learning about planetary climate change, geological activity, and atmospheric dynamics. Studying its runaway greenhouse effect offers a stark warning about the potential consequences of excessive atmospheric warming.

In summary, Venus is a brilliant but hostile world—Earth’s twin in size yet its opposite in habitability, with crushing pressure, scorching heat, and a thick acidic atmosphere that hides its volcanic surface beneath perpetual clouds.