SPACE SCHOOL 2024 - VENUS

Venus is the second planet from the Sun in our solar system, located between Mercury and Earth. It's named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty due to its brightness and beauty in the night sky. Here are some key characteristics of Venus:
Atmosphere: Venus has a thick atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide (CO2), with clouds of sulfuric acid. The atmosphere is so dense that it creates a strong greenhouse effect, resulting in surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead-around 462°C (864°F). It's the hottest planet in our solar system, despite being the second closest to the Sun.
Surface: Venus has a surface that's predominantly rocky and is marked by vast plains, highland regions, and thousands of volcanoes. Its surface is relatively young compared to other planets, suggesting recent volcanic activity.
Rotation and Orbit: Venus rotates on its axis very slowly, taking about 243 Earth days to complete one rotation, making its day longer than its year. Its orbit around the Sun takes about 225 Earth days, making a Venusian year shorter than its day.
Size and Mass: Venus is similar in size and mass to Earth, often referred to as Earth's sister planet. It has a diameter of about 12,104 kilometers (7,521 miles), which is about 95% the diameter of Earth.
Magnetic Field: Unlike Earth, Venus does not have a significant magnetic field. This lack of a magnetic field contributes to the stripping away of its atmosphere by the solar wind over time.
Exploration: Venus has been visited by several spacecraft, including NASA's Magellan mission, which mapped the planet's surface using radar, and more recently the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission, which studied its atmosphere and surface in detail.
Overall, Venus is an intriguing planet with extreme conditions that make it both fascinating and challenging to study. Its similarities and differences to Earth provide valuable insights into planetary formation and evolution processes.