Venus

Venus, also called the evening star, morning star and the terrible planet, is the second planet in our solar system. The planet is named after the Roman goddess Venus.

Venus is just over 108 million kilometres away from the Sun. Still, the planet is well visible from the earth, because it radiates the most bright of all the planets.

Properties

The diameter of Venus is 12,104 km. The Earth's is only about 600 km larger. The planet takes 116 days and 18 hours to go completely around the sun. It takes about 225 days for the planet to orbit the sun. The time between sunrise and sunset is 116 days and 18 hours.

Climate

Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system. On Venus it is therefore about 450 to 500 degrees Celsius (even warmer than on Mercury). Due to this enormous heat, it is very difficult to examine the planet up close: attempts have been made to land robots on Venus, but they have not even reached the surfaces of Venus. Research has shown that Venus has not always been so hot: there was probably once a lot of water on Venus, just like on Earth now.

Because it is 450 to 500 degrees Celsius on Venus, all the water evaporates immediately (water evaporates already at 100 degrees Celsius) and it is cork dry on the planet. That evaporated water rises and creates a very thick atmosphere, which would be toxic for humans to breathe. This thick atmosphere gives Venus its white colour. Another word for atmosphere is 'cloud blanket'. In addition, this cloud blanket reflects sunlight, so that we see Venus as a star on earth. Precisely because this cloud blanket or atmosphere is very thick. Venus is not a star at all, but it is said in colloquial language.

The cloud blanket not only ensures that the planet is clearly visible, but also that the heat is retained on Venus. As a result, the planet is even hotter than Mercury, while it is closer to the sun. Therefore, no normal rain comes out of this cloud blanket, but acid that evaporates immediately when it hits the ground. Because of the considerable heat on the planet, it is also called the 'terrible planet'. Due to the total absence of water, Venus is a stone planet. Under that cloud cover is Venus is covered with volcanos and lava.