Earth-size neighbor
Venus is close to Earth in size, but the two worlds are very different. Earth is comfortable for life, while Venus is extremely hot.
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Planet lesson
Venus
Rocky planet
Venus is similar in size to Earth, but its thick atmosphere traps heat and makes it extremely hot.
Kid fact
Venus spins slowly and in the opposite direction from most planets.
Four Views of Venus
Day
243 Earth days
Year
225 Earth days
Moons
0
Temperature
464 C average
Cloud blanket
Its thick atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. Heat gets trapped under the clouds, making Venus hotter than Mercury.
Slow backward spin
Venus spins very slowly and in the opposite direction from most planets. One Venus day is longer than one Venus year.
Hidden surface
Ordinary cameras cannot see through Venus' clouds, so spacecraft use radar to map volcanoes, plains, and mountains underneath.
Look closely
In Venus images, notice the bright yellow clouds. The surface is not visible, so ask what tools scientists need to study it.
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