Venus

Did You Know?
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. It has the longest rotation period (243 days) of any planet in the Solar System and rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets (meaning the Sun would rise in the west and set in the east). It does not have any natural satellites. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty.

Planet Profile
Mass (kg) 4.87 x 1024
Diameter (km) 12104
Mean density (kg/m3) 5420
Mean density (kg/m3) 5250
Escape velocity (m/s) 10400
Average distance from Sun 0.723 AU (108,208,930 km)
Rotation period (length of day in Earth days) 243.02 (retrograde)
Revolution period (length of year in Earth days) 224.7
Obliquity (tilt of axis degrees) 178
Orbit inclination (degrees) 3.39
Mean surface temperature (K) 726
Maximum surface temperature (K) 726
Highest point on surface Maxwell Montes (17 km above mean planetary radius)
Atmospheric components
  • 96% carbon dioxide,
  • 3% nitrogen
  • 0.1% water vapor
Surface materials basaltic rock and altered materials