Last Reviewed and Updated on June 14, 2022
Venus, the second planet from the Sun, has many unique features that set it apart from most other planets in our Solar System. Learn some of the most interesting facts about Venus, a planet that is, despite its extreme conditions also called the sister planet of Earth.
1. Although not the closest to the Sun it is the hottest planet
Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system, with the mean temperatures of 867 °F / 464 °C. It is hotter than Mercury, a planet that is closer to the Sun than Venus is.
What makes Venus hotter than Mercury is its dense atmosphere, comprised mostly of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that traps heat.
2. The temperature on Venus doesn’t really vary between night and day
The temperature on Venus is pretty uniform. It doesn’t change much from the equator to the poles and it doesn’t change much during the day or night.
3. You can see Venus in the sky, it’s both what we call the “Morning Star” and the “Evening Star“
What we commonly call the “Morning Star” and the “Evening Star” are the same celestial objects, and this object isn’t a star. What you see is in fact, Venus.
It is also the brightest object in the sky if you don’t count the Sun and the Moon.
4. Venus has no moons
Venus and Mercury are the only two planets in our Solar System that have no moons.
5. The atmosphere of Venus rotates faster than the planet
One of the most unique facts about Venus. This phenomenon, when the atmosphere of the planet rotates faster than the planet itself, is called atmospheric-super rotation.
Venus is an extreme example of it, the atmosphere of the planet makes a rotation in 4 Earth days while the planet takes 243 Earth days to complete one rotation.
6. It spins in the opposite direction than most planets
Most of the planets in our solar system, as well as the Sun and other objects, rotate counter-clockwise.
Venus and Uranus are exceptions. Venus spins in the opposite direction, it rotates clockwise.
There is no definite answer to what caused Venus to spin in opposite direction as most objects in our solar system. Currently, the most probable theory is that this could be due to a large asteroid hitting the planet sometime in the past.
7. Venus orbits the Sun faster than it takes it to spin around its axis
It takes Venus 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun. It takes a long time for Venus to make a full rotation around its axis, a whole 243, which makes one day on Venus longer than one Venus year.
8. It has more volcanoes than any other planet in our Solar System
One of the coolest facts about Venus is the number of volcanoes it has. With over 1600 major volcanoes observed on Venus, it is the planet with more volcanoes than any other planet in our Solar System.
Most of these volcanoes are probably extinct, and while there are speculations and studies on the planet still being volcanically active, there are currently no firm confirmations of active volcanic activity.
9. Its atmosphere is about 96.5 % carbon dioxide
And about 3.5% are nitrogen. Other gases can be found in traces. Compared to the Earth’s atmosphere, the mass of the atmosphere on Venus is 92 of that of Earth.
Ita atmosphere generates the strongest greenhouse effect in our Solar System.
10. The surface of Venus can’t be freely seen from Earth
Venus is covered by thick clouds, so the surface can’t be freely observed from Earth without the use of radio waves.
If you observe the planet through a telescope you would be looking at its atmosphere and not the actual surface of the planet.
11. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty
A beautiful name for a planet that is pretty hostile.