Planet Venus Basics Cheat Sheet

1. Overview of Venus

• Position in Solar System: 2nd planet from the Sun
• Distance from Sun: ~108.2 million km (0.72 AU)
• Orbital Period: 225 Earth days (1 Venus year)
• Rotation Period: 243 Earth days (Retrograde rotation – spins opposite to most planets)
• Diameter: 12,104 km (95% of Earth’s size)
• Gravity: 8.87 m/s² (91% of Earth’s)
• Temperature:
  • Surface: ~465°C (869°F) – Hottest planet in the solar system
• Moons: None
• Atmosphere: Thick and toxic (mainly carbon dioxide with clouds of sulfuric acid)

2. Key Characteristics

• Size: Slightly smaller than Earth (Earth’s “sister planet”).
• Surface: Volcanic plains, mountains, craters, and vast highland regions.
• Color: Yellowish due to thick clouds reflecting sunlight.
• Rotation:
  • Slowest rotation of any planet.
  • Retrograde spin: Sun rises in the west and sets in the east.
• No Magnetic Field: Minimal intrinsic magnetic field.

3. Orbital and Rotational Facts

• Orbital Speed: 35 km/s
• 1 Venus Day: Longer than its year (243 Earth days to rotate once).
• Axial Tilt: 177° (almost upside down).
• Eccentricity: Nearly circular orbit.

4. Atmosphere and Greenhouse Effect

• Composition:
  • 96.5% Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
  • 3.5% Nitrogen
  • Trace gases: Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), water vapor
• Pressure: 92 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure (equivalent to 900 m underwater).
• Greenhouse Effect:
  • Thick atmosphere traps heat, creating extreme surface temperatures.
  • Reflects 75% of sunlight, making Venus the brightest planet seen from Earth.

5. Surface and Geological Features

• Volcanoes:
  • Maat Mons – Largest volcano (8 km high).
  • Possible ongoing volcanic activity.
• Plains: Vast lava plains and domes.
• Craters: Few impact craters due to the thick atmosphere burning most meteors.
• Tesserae: Tectonic ridges unique to Venus.

6. Temperature and Climate

• Surface Temperature: 465°C (hotter than Mercury).
• No Significant Variation: Similar temperatures day or night, pole to equator.
• Wind Speed: 360 km/h in the upper atmosphere (super-rotation of clouds).

7. Exploration of Venus

• Mariner 2 (1962): First successful flyby (NASA).
• Venera Missions (USSR):
  • Venera 7 (1970): First spacecraft to land on Venus.
  • Venera 9 (1975): First images from the surface.
• Magellan (1990): Mapped 98% of Venus’ surface using radar.
• Future Missions:
  • VERITAS (NASA): Launching 2031 to map surface.
  • EnVision (ESA): Scheduled for the 2030s.

8. Interesting Facts

• Brightest Object in the Sky (after the Sun and Moon): Known as the “Evening Star” or “Morning Star.”
• Runaway Greenhouse Effect: Atmosphere traps so much heat that it surpasses Mercury’s temperature.
• Opposite Spin: Rotates clockwise unlike most planets (retrograde rotation).
• Closest to Earth: Venus is Earth’s nearest planetary neighbor.

9. Why is Venus Important?

• Study of Climate: Helps scientists understand the runaway greenhouse effect.
• Planetary Formation: Reveals insights about Earth-sized planets in other solar systems.
• Volcanism: Venus may still have active volcanoes, shaping its surface.

10. Key Measurements

11. Venus in Mythology and Culture

• Named After: Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty (Greek: Aphrodite).
• Cultural Symbolism:
  • Often associated with femininity and beauty.
  • Astrological symbol: ♀️

12. Differences Between Venus and Earth

13. Can Venus Support Life?

• Surface: Hostile for life (extreme heat and pressure).
• Upper Atmosphere: Potential for microbial life in the cooler cloud layers (speculated by scientists).