Venus

The second planet from the Sun in the solar system. Venus orbits the Sun at an average distance 0.7 AU. The planet has a mass of 0.08 times the mass of Earth and a radius 0.95 times the radius of Earth. It is made of solid, rocky material and has a predominantly carbon dioxide atmosphere. Clouds of sulfuric acid cover the entire planet. Venus has no moons.

Resources

Exploring Our Own Back Yard The four planets closest to the Sun -- Mercury,...
Venus Cloud-covered Venus is the second planet from...

Radio Programs

Venus and Antares Snow clouds on a hot world? Saturday, December 22, 2012
More Mariner 2 Destroying a “second Earth” Friday, December 14, 2012
Mariner 2 Pioneering a path to another world Thursday, December 13, 2012
More Venus and Regulus A well-timed early morning encounter Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Moon and Venus Drying out a wet planet Sunday, September 9, 2012
Moon, Venus, Mercury Getting close to the Sun Monday, August 13, 2012
Moon and Venus A close encounter in the dawn sky Sunday, August 12, 2012
More Moon and Companions A sky show that’s worth getting up for Saturday, July 14, 2012
Venus and Aldebaran Bright and brighter in the dawn sky Friday, July 6, 2012
Brilliant Venus Lighting up the “evening star” Saturday, April 28, 2012
Moon and Venus Resetting the clocks on Venus Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Venus and Aldebaran The demise of a star and planet Sunday, April 8, 2012
More Venus and Jupiter Worlds with and without companions Monday, March 12, 2012
Venus and Jupiter Following a pair of cosmic headlights Sunday, March 11, 2012
Planetary Flashes Lighting up the clouds of Venus Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Moon and Venus Paving the surface of a bright planet Monday, December 26, 2011
More Moon and Venus Ancient oceans on a dry world Sunday, November 27, 2011
Moon and Venus A skin-deep planetary beauty Saturday, November 26, 2011
Mikhail Lomonosov The man who discovered an atmosphere Saturday, November 19, 2011
Venus Returns The return of the “evening star” Friday, October 28, 2011

Featured Images

Artist's concept of Mariner 2 flying past Venus, December 14, 1962
 First Encounter Thursday, December 13, 2012
June 5, 2012, Venus transit from International Space Station
 Seeing Spots Saturday, June 9, 2012
Ultraviolet view of Venusian clouds from Venus Express orbiter
 Cloudy Skies Saturday, November 26, 2011

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