With a diameter of approximately 12,104 kilometers, Venus closely matches Earth’s dimensions. However, its extreme surface conditions render it inhospitable, with temperatures soaring to around 900 degrees Fahrenheit (about 475 degrees Celsius), making it the hottest planet in our solar system.

Venus’ thick atmosphere consists mainly of carbon dioxide and clouds of sulfuric acid, creating a dense blanket that traps heat and contributes to its runaway greenhouse effect. Despite being a rocky planet like Earth, Venus’s atmosphere is much denser, pressurized to about 92 times that of Earth’s atmosphere at sea level. The planet’s surface is dotted with volcanic features, vast plains, and numerous impact craters, although its thick clouds obscure much of its surface from direct observation.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Venus is its retrograde rotation, meaning it rotates on its axis in the opposite direction to most planets, with the Sun rising in the west and setting in the east. This unusual rotation is believed to have been caused by a massive collision or gravitational interactions during its early formation. Venus’ complex and hostile environment continues to fascinate scientists, who study it to gain insights into planetary evolution, climate dynamics, and the potential for habitability beyond Earth.