| The second planet from the sun, and also known as the morning star, is Venus. Besides the sun and moon, it is the brightest object in the sky. Even through its brightness, it is an obscure planet, only being seen three hours before sunrise, or three hours after sunset. It also goes through annual phases such as the moon phases. Because Venus is so far away from Earth, it is one of the more difficult planets to study. Most of the information about it has been gathered up by space vehicles, mainly probes. The first to fly by was Mariner 2, by the U.S in 1962. Later, Mariner 5 was sent in 1967, and Mariner 10 in 1974. The U.S.S.R also sent out probes. Venera 4 and 5 was sent in 1967, 6 in 1969, 7 in 1970, 8 in 1972, 9 and 10 in 1975, 11 and 12 in 1978, 13 and 14 in 1981, and 15 and 16 in 1983. Later, Vega 1 and 2(meant to study Halley's comet) picked up a some information about the planet. The two machines that made the changing point in knowledge about Venus, were Pioneer Venus 1 and 2, which were sent in 1978. Pioneer Venus 2 sent 4 probes to Venus' surface which successful landed and gathered data. | |
| The surface of Venus is mostly made of gases and liquids. It's surface temperature is quite hot, 462C( 864F). Yet, the regular air temperature (in the day half) is 40C(104F). In the night half, it is extremely cold, -170C(-27F). Covering the surface is a giant clouid base about 3 miles wide, and msotly made up of CO2 atoms and sulfuric acid. The clouds are pushed around by winds up to 360 k/hr (225 mph), but that is only in the upper atmosphere. The first six miles the winds are only about 3-18 km/hr(2-11 mph). Even though the surface is mostly gas and liquid, there has been evidence of huge active volcanoes, solidified lava flows, and a vast array of meteorite craters. |
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