Venus is our neighbour planet but it is nothing like Earth. The temperature and pressure on Venus' surface is like hell to human beings. Let's explore the 12 most interesting facts about the bizarre planet Venus.
1. Venus is sometimes regarded as Earth's sister planet.
This is because Venus and Earth are very identical in size, mass, proximity to the sun, and composition.
2. Venus is the closest planet to Earth.
Venus comes closer to Earth than any other planet. But on average, Mercury is the closest planet. To understand more about it, Read it here.
3. Venus is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon.
Venus' close distance to Earth and its thick cloud (that reflects about the 70 percent of the light falls on it) are the reasons for its brightness in the night sky.
4. Venus is the hottest planet of our solar system.
Many of us think that Mercury is the hottest planet since it is closest to the Sun but that's not true. Venus has a very thick atmosphere that traps the heat from escaping into space. On the other hand, Mercury has no atmosphere of its own.
5. One day on Venus is longer than one year on Venus.
This is the most fascinating fact about the planet Venus. The rotation of Venus is slow... very slow. It takes about 243 Earth days to spin on its axis once. On the other hand, It takes 225 Earth days to complete one revolution around the sun. That's how its days are longer than its year.
6. Venus rotates in the opposite direction, compared to the other planets of our solar system.
Venus has opposite rotation which means, On Venus, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east.
7. Venus has 92 times more atmospheric pressure than Earth.
The atmospheric pressure on the surface of Venus is 92 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth. This much pressure can squeeze a person, standing on the Venus' surface.
8. Sulfuric acid rains on Venus.
Venus is so hot that the sulfuric acid evaporates even before it touches the surface of the planet.
9. Venus has the most number of volcanoes than any other planet.
There are over 1600 major volcanoes on Venus, none are erupting at present. Venus has more than 150 large volcanoes that are over 100 km (60 miles) across. Earth has only one.
10. Venus has a very weak magnetic field.
This is mainly due to its steady rotation and lack of its solid inner core.
1 1. Venus was the first planet to be explored by spacecraft.
Venus was the first planet, visited (flyby) by a spacecraft Mariner 2 in 1962. In 1970, soviet spacecraft Venera 7 became the first-ever spacecraft to land on the surface of any other planet.
12. Venus may host life.
Recently, Phosphine gas was discovered in the clouds of Venus. Scientists believe that the existence of phosphine gas on Venus could be a possible indicator of life.