Venus

Venus is the second planet from the sun.

Astronomers have known Venus for thousands of years.

The ancient Romans named it after their goddess Venus.

Venus is the brightest object in the night sky except for the Moon.

Venus comes closer to the Earth than any other planet does.

Venus is sometimes called the sister planet of Earth as they are quite similar in size and gravity.

Venus' atmosphere (air) is mostly carbon dioxide with clouds of sulphuric acid.

Venus was the first planet to have its motions plotted across the sky, as early as the second millennium BC and spins very slowly on its axis, it spins in the opposite direction to the other planets.

A day on Venus is equal to 117 days on Earth.

Venus is a terrestrial planet so, like the Earth, its surface is made of rock.

Venus is much hotter than Earth.

This effect is called the greenhouse effect and it is very strong on Venus.

This makes the surface of Venus the hottest of any planet's surface in the Solar System with an estimated average temperature of 480 °C (896.0 °F).

Venus has no oceans because it is much too hot for water.

Venus' surface is a dry desert.

Only the Earth's moon and Venus are brighter.

Venus is the hottest planet, even though Mercury is closer to the Sun.

This is because Venus has thick clouds that trap heat.

Venus is the hottest planet, even hotter than Mercury!