Planet Venus is one of the planets located in our solar system. Known as Earth’s twin planet, Venus attracts the attention of researchers and sky watchers with its unique and interesting characteristics.
With its geographically diverse surface and youthful terrain, Venus is an interesting subject of research. In addition, Venus is also known as the hottest planet in the solar system and has an atmosphere containing unusual gases.
Let’s explore further about this planet revolving around the Sun in reverse and uncover interesting facts you need to know about Venus.
1. Earth’s twin planet
Venus, also known as “Earth’s twin planet,” has some very interesting similarities to our planet. In size, Venus is almost the same diameter as Earth, making it the second largest planet after Jupiter.
Both Venus and Earth have an atmosphere and a solid surface, although conditions on Venus are very different and extreme compared to Earth. In addition, Venus and Earth also have a similar internal structure.
Both Venus and Earth have a solid iron core at their center, a surrounding mantle and a rocky crust on the surface. However, an important difference lies in the surface and atmospheric conditions of Venus are very different from those of Earth.
Just like Earth, Venus also experiences changes in the weather and climate system. Venus has complex weather cycles, including thick clouds of sulfuric acid in its atmosphere.
Despite structural similarities to Earth, conditions on Venus are not conducive to life as we know it. The surface of Venus is very hot, the atmosphere is very toxic, and the atmospheric pressure is very high making it one of the most inhospitable places for life as we know it.
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2. The second closest planet to the Sun
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Venus is the second closest planet to the Sun after Mercury. The average distance between Venus and the Sun is about 108 million kilometers. The displacement of the planet Venus from the Sun is relatively small, so it is often seen close to the Sun in the sky.
Venus is one of the planets that can be easily observed from Earth in the morning as the “morning star” or at night as the “dusk star”. This phenomenon is due to Venus’ orbit being deeper in the Earth’s orbit, so we can see Venus approaching or moving away from the Sun from our point of view on Earth.
Even though Venus is farther from the Sun than Mercury, it has a much higher surface temperature than Mercury and is the closest planet to the Sun.
3. Planets have longer days than years
One of the interesting facts about Venus is that it rotates very slowly. Venus has a very long rotation period, which is about 243 Earth days.
That is, a day on Venus lasts longer than a year. Venus itself only lasts about 225 Earth days. In other words, Venus has longer “days” than its “years.”
This phenomenon is caused by the rotational motion of Venus which is reversed or counterclockwise. Most planets, including Earth, rotate clockwise when viewed from the north pole.
However, Venus rotates retrogradely, that is, in the opposite direction to the majority of the other planets. Venus’ retrograde rotation results in a long rotation period, making it the longest rotating planet in the solar system.
The difference between Venus’ slow rotation period and its relatively short period of revolution or year makes Venus a unique phenomenon. Each “morning” on Venus lasts for several Earth months, followed by a “night” also lasting for several Earth months.
The changes in weather and lighting during this period are very distinct and dramatic. Venus’ slow rotation and the difference between Venus’ days and years add to the uniqueness of this planet in our solar system.
4. Planets with diverse geographic terrain
The surface of Venus has a very diverse geographic terrain. Although Venus looks like a smooth and featureless planet when observed from afar, deeper study and closer observation reveal an interesting variety.
Plateaus are one of the dominant features on Venus. These plateaus consist of higher areas and tend to have undulating topography. There are towering mountains that stretch across most of Venus’ surface.
One prominent example is Mount Maxwell which is over 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) high, making it one of the tallest mountains in the solar system. Between the plateaus, there are also broad lowlands.
These lowlands are often located in the vicinity of volcanic areas forming large volcanic plains and plains formed by geological activity. The surface of Venus is also marked by deep and steep valleys stretching for thousands of kilometers.
In addition, Venus also has a very large number of extinct volcanoes and craters stretching across its surface. Large and complex craters, some of which are tens of kilometers in diameter, show signs of intense volcanic activity in Venus’ past.
The diversity of Venus’ geographic terrain provides clues about the geological activity that has occurred on this planet. Better understanding of the structure and evolution of Venus’ surface is important in unraveling mysteries about the planet’s history and the geological processes that took place on it.
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5. Planets with youthful geographic surfaces
One of the interesting facts about Venus is that its surface looks youthful. Although Venus is older than Earth, with an age of about 4.5 billion years, the planet’s geological features appear to be relatively recent and there are not many visible signs of significant erosion or change.
One of the main reasons Venus’ surface looks youthful is its past strong volcanic activity. Thousands of extinguished volcanoes and large craters found on the surface of Venus suggest the planet has undergone an intense volcanic period.
New lava flows and relatively recent volcanic deposits can still be found in some areas of Venus. In addition, the lack of tectonic plates or tectonic plates like those on Earth also plays a role in maintaining the existence of youthful geological features on Venus.
The Earth has moving tectonic plates and experiences continuous processes of mountain building, valley formation and erosion. However, Venus has no active moving tectonic plates, so its geological features can remain relatively unchanged for millions of years.
6. The hottest planet in the solar system
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Venus is known as the hottest planet in the solar system. The surface temperature of Venus reaches extreme extremes, reaching around 470 degrees Celsius (880 degrees Fahrenheit).
This phenomenon makes Venus the place with the highest temperature among all the planets in the solar system. In fact, exceeding the temperature Mercury is closer to the Sun.
There are several factors that cause Venus to be so hot. One of them is the very strong greenhouse effect in the atmosphere of Venus.
Venus’ atmosphere is composed primarily of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) which effectively traps heat from the Sun and produces a significant warming effect on the planet. This process is known as the greenhouse effect because Venus’s atmospheric gases, such as glass, refract sunlight but retain heat inside.
In addition, the atmospheric pressure on the surface of Venus is also very high, more than 90 times that of Earth’s atmosphere at sea level. The combination of high temperatures and extreme atmospheric pressure creates conditions extremely inhospitable to life as we know it.
This makes Venus one of the least habitable places in the solar system. Further studies of Venus’ atmosphere, including its composition and thermal dynamics, are ongoing for researchers to understand the mechanisms causing these extreme surface temperatures.
Knowledge of Venus’ atmosphere not only provides insight into the planet, but also aids scientists in understanding climate change and the greenhouse effect on other planets, including Earth.
7. A planet with a smell like rotten eggs
One of the interesting facts about Venus is the presence of a strong odor in its atmosphere resembling the smell of rotten eggs. In 2020, research by scientists found traces of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus. Phosphine gas, also known as phosphine, is a chemical compound commonly associated with biological activity on Earth.
This discovery led to speculation about the possibility of life on Venus. It’s important to note, however, that the evidence for the existence of life on Venus is still inconclusive and requires further research.
The existence of a smell like rotten eggs in the atmosphere of Venus is associated with the presence of intense volcanic activity on this planet. When volcanic gases, such as sulfur, are released into the atmosphere, chemical reactions can produce sulfur-containing compounds.
These gases could have contributed to the unpleasant odor detected by instruments on the space probes that visited Venus.
8. The planet was first visited by Earth’s spacecraft
pixabay.com/Reimund Bertrams
Venus became the first destination successfully visited by a man-made spacecraft. In 1962, the United States launched a space probe named Mariner 2 to carry out a scientific search mission for Venus.
Mariner 2 made its way to Venus in December 1962, making it the first successful spacecraft to reach the planet. The Mariner 2 mission managed to collect important data about Venus, such as surface temperature, atmospheric composition and magnetic field.
The data collected by Mariner 2 helps scientists understand the unique characteristics of Venus and provides a basis for further research. After Mariner 2, many other space probes have been sent to visit and study Venus.
For example, the Venera mission launched by the Soviet Union successfully landed several landing modules on the surface of Venus and transmitted images and data of the hot and toxic surface. Space probe deliveries to Venus have provided valuable insights into the planet’s properties, including its thick atmosphere, strong greenhouse effect, past volcanic activity, and surface composition.
The research carried out through these missions continues and has enhanced our understanding of the planet Venus as well as helping to solve the scientific puzzles and challenges still associated with this planet.
9. Planets with little possibility of life
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When discussing the possibility of life in the solar system, Venus is often dismissed as an unlikely environment to support life as we know it. The surface of Venus is one of the most inhospitable and extreme places in the solar system.
However, recent research has shown the possibility of microbial life in Venus’ upper atmosphere. Even though the surface temperature of Venus is very hot and the atmospheric pressure is very high, in the upper atmosphere of Venus, there are relatively cold cloud layers and have more moderate conditions.
Several studies have revealed the presence of life-supporting compounds such as phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus. Phosphine is a compound that can be produced by microorganisms on Earth.
The discovery of this phosphine led to speculation about the possibility that microbial life could survive in the atmosphere of Venus at a lower temperature and pressure. Although this discovery sparked further discussion and research, there are still many questions to be answered before it can confirm the existence of life on Venus.
Future studies and missions, including proposed orbiter and lander missions for Venus, are expected to provide clearer insights into the potential for life on this planet. Through further exploration, we can broaden our understanding of the limits and possibilities of life in places previously thought impossible to support life.
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2023-07-04 12:03:00
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