Venus: The Earth's Twin with a Fiery Twist
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and often called Earth's "twin" due to its similar size,
mass, and composition. However, Venus has an extreme atmosphere, scorching temperatures,
and crushing pressure, making it the hottest planet in the solar system. Its thick, toxic clouds
trap heat in a runaway greenhouse effect, creating a hellish world unlike any other.
Basic Characteristics
Type: Terrestrial (rocky) planet
Diameter: 12,104 km (~95% of Earth's diameter)
Mass: 0.82 times Earth's mass
Gravity: 90% of Earth's gravity
Density: 5.24 g/cm³ (similar to Earth)
Distance from the Sun: 108 million km (0.72 AU)
Orbital Period: 225 Earth days
Rotation Period: 243 Earth days (longest day of any planet)
Axial Tilt: 177.4° (Venus rotates backward compared to most planets)
Orbit and Rotation
Venus has an almost circular orbit around the Sun.
It rotates in the opposite direction of most planets (retrograde rotation).
A day on Venus (243 Earth days) is longer than its year (225 Earth days).
Because of its slow rotation and thick atmosphere, the Sun rises in the west and sets in
the east—the opposite of Earth.
Surface and Geology
Venus has a rocky, volcanic surface, shaped by volcanic activity and intense atmospheric
pressure.
Key Surface Features
Maxwell Montes – The tallest mountain on Venus (~11 km high, taller than Mount
Everest).
Ishtar Terra & Aphrodite Terra – Large highland regions similar to continents on
Earth.
Tesserae – Rugged, deformed plateaus, possibly formed by geological activity.
Volcanoes – More than 1,600 volcanoes, some possibly still active (evidence of recent
lava flows).
Impact Craters – Less than other planets, as Venus’s thick atmosphere burns up smaller
meteoroids.
Venus has no tectonic plates like Earth but may have hotspot volcanism and periodic
resurfacing events that renew its surface.
Atmosphere and Climate
Venus has the thickest atmosphere of all terrestrial planets, made mostly of carbon dioxide
(CO₂). The dense clouds trap heat, creating an extreme runaway greenhouse effect.
Composition
96.5% Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
3.5% Nitrogen (N₂)
Traces of Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) and Other Gases
Weather and Temperature
Hottest Planet in the Solar System – Average surface temperature: 467°C (872°F)
(hot enough to melt lead).
Crushing Atmospheric Pressure – 92 times Earth's pressure (equivalent to being 900
meters underwater).
Thick Cloud Layers – Made of sulfuric acid, reflecting sunlight and making Venus the
brightest planet in the night sky.
Extreme Winds – Super-rotational winds blow at 360 km/h (224 mph) in the upper
atmosphere.
Lightning and Acid Rain – Sulfuric acid rain evaporates before reaching the surface (a
phenomenon called "virga").
Magnetosphere and Core
Unlike Earth, Venus lacks a strong magnetic field, possibly due to its slow rotation and lack
of internal convection. However, it has an induced magnetosphere, formed by the interaction
of the solar wind with its atmosphere.
Possibility of Life
The surface of Venus is too hostile for life, but the upper atmosphere (~50 km high) has
conditions similar to Earth’s lower atmosphere, where microbial life could theoretically exist. In
2020, scientists detected phosphine (PH₃), a potential biosignature, in Venus’s clouds, but its
presence remains controversial.
Exploration of Venus
Past Missions
Venera Program (USSR, 1961–1983) – First probes to land on Venus (Venera 7 in
1970).
Mariner 2 (NASA, 1962) – First successful flyby of Venus.
Pioneer Venus (NASA, 1978) – Studied Venus’s atmosphere and surface.
Magellan (NASA, 1990–1994) – Mapped 98% of Venus’s surface using radar.
Ongoing and Future Missions
VERITAS (NASA, 2031) – Will map Venus’s geology and topography.
DAVINCI+ (NASA, 2031) – Will analyze Venus’s atmosphere and study its history.
EnVision (ESA, 2030s) – Will study Venus’s geology and climate.
Interesting Facts
Brightest planet – Venus is the third brightest object in the night sky after the Sun and
Moon.
Earth’s evil twin – Similar in size, but extremely different in conditions.
Slowest rotating planet – Venus’s day is longer than its year.
No moons – Unlike Earth and Mars, Venus has no natural satellites.
Greenhouse effect gone wild – A cautionary example of how CO₂ can trap heat.
Conclusion
Venus is one of the most extreme planets in the solar system, with blazing heat, crushing
pressure, and acidic clouds. Despite its inhospitable conditions, scientists remain curious
about its geological history, atmosphere, and potential for microbial life. Future missions
will continue to unlock the secrets of Earth’s "twin" and its mysterious past.
