Venus Solar System Nasa

Nasa s real time science encyclopedia of deep space exploration.

Venus solar system nasa.

Venus has an active surface including volcanoes. The planet is a little smaller than earth and is similar to earth inside. Venus is one of the four terrestrial planets in the solar system meaning that it is a rocky body like earth. Venus is the brightest object in the sky after the sun and the moon and sometimes looks like a bright star in the morning or evening sky.

It is similar to earth in size and mass and is often described as earth s sister or twin. Venus inside and on top venus is the second planet from the sun and is earth s closest neighbor in the solar system. The diameter of venus is 12 103 6 km 7 520 8 mi only 638 4 km 396 7 mi less than earth s and its mass is 81 5 of earth s. Venus has a thick atmosphere.

Studying venus not only teaches us about our own planet but also about many planets beyond our solar system. Nasa science solar system exploration. Venus is a terrestrial planet. Venus spins the opposite direction of earth and most other planets.

It traps heat and makes venus very hot. It is small and rocky. A day on venus lasts 243 earth days. Our scientists and hardworking robots are exploring the wild frontiers of our solar system.

Menu close modal. And other space agencies have explored venus including nasa s magellan which mapped the planet s surface with radar. Since then numerous spacecraft from the u s.