
Venus, often referred to as Earth’s “sister planet” because of its similar size and composition, is a captivating world of extremes. Its blistering surface and thick, toxic atmosphere create some of the most inhospitable conditions in the solar system. Yet beneath these harsh features lies a planet with a rich history and unique phenomena that continually intrigue scientists. Typically, Venus shines brightest shortly before sunrise or just after sunset, earning it the titles of “Morning Star” and “Evening Star.”
Discover some of the most intriguing facts about Venus below!
1. Venus Was Once Earth-Like
Using advanced climate models, scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center have theorized that Venus may have been more Earth-like for its first 2 billion years. With shallow oceans and potential landmasses, Venus could have supported conditions favorable to life. However, due to receiving about 40% more sunlight than Earth, its water evaporated, triggering a runaway greenhouse effect that turned Venus into the scorched planet we see today.
2. The Surface of Venus Is Recycled
Despite Venus lacking tectonic plates, the planet’s surface is relatively young—less than 500 million years old. Periodic volcanic activity resurfaces Venus by covering old terrain with new lava. The planet features smooth volcanic plains and two large highland areas: Aphrodite Terra, located near the equator and the size of Africa, and Ishtar Terra, located in the north, similar in size to Australia. Venus’ tallest mountain, Maxwell Montes, rises 7 miles (11 km) above the plains.
3. Geological Features Named After Women
In a unique astronomical tradition, nearly all of Venus’ surface features are named after historical women. Names like Artemis Chasma, Phoebe Regio, and Guinevere Planitia honor figures from mythology and history. However, names of female military or religious leaders from recent history, or those with nationalist significance, are not included.
4. Flattened Volcanoes and Pancake Domes
Venus is home to many volcanoes, the tallest being Maat Mons, a 5-mile-high (8 km) shield volcano. Due to Venus’ immense atmospheric pressure (90 times that of Earth’s), volcanic flows are flattened, creating structures known as “pancake domes.” These pancake-shaped features, often found near coronae—oval trenches surrounded by elevated plains—can be up to 1,000 meters high and several kilometers wide.
5. The Longest River in the Solar System
The Baltis Vallis, a river channel on Venus, stretches nearly 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles), making it the longest known river channel in the solar system. It is believed to have been formed by a massive lava flow rather than water. The channel is named after the Arabian goddess Baltis, who was associated with Venus in ancient Mesopotamian mythology.
6. No Small Craters on Venus
Despite hosting over 1,000 meteor impact craters, none of Venus’ craters are smaller than 1.25 miles (2 km) in diameter. Smaller meteorites disintegrate in the planet’s thick atmosphere before reaching the surface. Venus’ largest crater, Mead, spans 174 miles (280 km) and is surrounded by multiple rings created by the impact. Missions to Venus, like NASA’s Magellan which mapped the planet’s surface in the early 1990s, have provided crucial data on these impact features, revealing the planet’s geological history and the processes that shape its surface.
7. Venus Lacks a Magnetic Field
Unlike Earth, Venus has no detectable magnetic field, despite having a molten core. The absence of this magnetic shield puzzles scientists, leading to various theories, including the possibility that Venus’ core has already solidified or lacks the convection currents necessary for generating a magnetic field.
8. Venus’ Unique Orbit Forms a Pentagram
Viewed from above, Venus’ orbit traces a near-perfect pentagram over eight Earth years due to its gravitational relationship with our planet. This fascinating orbital pattern, known as a synodic cycle, represents Venus’ closest approaches to Earth.
9. Venus Is Almost Universally Hot
Venus’ surface temperature of 462°C (864°F) remains almost uniform across the planet, regardless of day or night. This is due to the slow rotation and thick atmosphere, which evenly distributes heat. The only significant temperature drop occurs at the planet’s highest elevation, Maxwell Montes, where the temperature is a slightly cooler 380°C (716°F).
10. Venus Spin Backward
Unlike most planets in the solar system, Venus rotates in the opposite direction of its orbit around the Sun, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation. Scientists believe this might be due to tidal interactions with the Sun and the planet’s thick atmosphere, which together create a torque that has gradually reversed Venus’ spin.