Additional Data:

Diameter:

12.103 km

Average distance to the sun:

108.160.000 km

The mass of 1 kg weighs on Venus:

869 g

One year on Venus lasts:

225 days

One day on Venus lasts:

243 days 27 minutes

Temperature on the surface:

430°C to 500°C

Orbital velocity:

35,02 km/s

Orbital inclination:

3,395°

Orbital excentricity:

0,0067

Weight:

0,815 earth masses

Density:

5.243 kg/m³

Gravitational accelleration:

8,87 m/s²

Escape velocity:

10,36 km/s

Tilt of the rotational axis:

177,36 °

Number of moos:

0

Number of rings:

0

 

Venus is most similar to Earth in terms of size, mass, and atmosphere, but the differences outweigh the similarities. Venus was named after the Roman goddess of love. It is the brightest celestial body after the sun and the moon and has been known to humans since ancient times. It is also known as the morning star or the evening star because it usually rises in the morning and sets in the evening. Venus can be seen one hour before sunrise in the east and one hour before sunset in the west. Like Mercury, it seems to follow the sun in its orbit. However, it is so bright that it can also be observed during the day.

Venus moves in an approximate circular orbit around the Sun. It takes just over half a year for one orbit, but two-thirds of an Earth year for one rotation around itself. Venus does not rotate counterclockwise like most planets, but clockwise. In astronomy, such a direction of rotation is called "retrograde". The very slow rotation of Venus and its unusual direction of rotation may have been caused by an impact of a large protoplanet in the early days of the solar system.

Venus, along with Mercury, Earth and Mars, is one of the rocky planets. It has a solid surface and a high density. Inside, it consists of several layers, which can be divided into core, mantle, and crust. The core is slightly smaller than that of the Earth, the mantle is relatively thick at about 3,000 km and the crust is on average about 30 km thick. Although Venus has enough volume to keep its iron core warm and liquid, it does not possess a magnetic field. A moon's slow rotation and lack of tidal forces could play a role here. Venus also has no plate tectonics, instead its surface is renewed by constant volcanism. With a few exceptions, images of the surface could only be taken by radar. Due to volcanism, the surface is very smooth and has only half as many impact craters as the Earth.

Venus has a very dense atmosphere, consisting mainly of carbon dioxide (96.5%). Other components include nitrogen (3.5%), water vapor, sulfur and some other trace gases. The atmosphere of Venus extends to an altitude of 250 km and is much heavier than Earth's atmosphere. The greenhouse effect, the greater proximity to the sun and the high weight led to hostile conditions on the surface of the planet. There is a pressure near the surface that occurs in water depths of 900 m on Earth and temperatures of 464 °C on average. At an altitude of 20 to 50 km, there is a cloud layer of sulfuric acid, which surrounds the entire planet.

In 1970, the first probe - Venera 7, Soviet Union - landed on the surface of Venus and was able to take measurements for 23 minutes before being crushed by the atmosphere. Since then, Venus has been visited by probes again and again. Many are gaining momentum for their onward flight to the outer planets.

In the 6th century, Venus is still known as the morning and evening star.

In 1610, Galileo Galilei was the first person to see Venus as more than just a bright point of light. He observed different phases of Venus.

In 1631, Johannes Kepler predicted a transit of Venus on the basis of elaborate calculations. Venus pushes itself in front of the Sun as seen from Earth. Such an event takes place every 121.5 years in pairs at intervals of eight years. The last transit ended in June 2004 and the next one will not take place until 2117.

In 1761, Russian astronomer Mikhail V. Lomonosov discovered a halo around the dark edge of Venus, indicating that it has an atmosphere.

In 1932, astronomers Walter Adams and Theodore Dunham discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the help of improved spectrographs.

In 1962, the American astronomer Carl Sagan calculated the influence of the atmosphere on the temperature of Venus.

In 1970, Venera 7 entered the atmosphere of Venus. A landing capsule was launched and transmitted image signals from the surface to Earth.

In 1989, the Magellan spacecraft succeeded in mapping Venus in detail using radar images.