Thinkquest 2001

Game

Venus
Welcome to The Planet of Venus.

Information about Venus
Mass
kg 4.87 x 10^24
Diameter
mi (km) 7,519 (12104)
Mean Density
kg/m^3 5250
Escape Velocity m/sec 10400
Distance from the sun Shortest 66,800,000 mi (107,500,000 km)
Greatest 67,700,000 mi (108,900,000 km)
Mean 67,230,000 mi (108,200,000 km)
Rotation Period (Length of Day) Earth Days 243.0 (Retrograde)
Revolution Period (Length of Year) Earth Days 224.7
Obliquity (Tilt of Axis)
Degrees 178
Orbit Inclination
Degrees 3.39
Orbit Eccentricity
Deviation From Circular 0.007
Mean Surface Temperature
Fahrenheit 864
Visual Geometric Albedo
Reflectivity 0.59
Highest Point On Surface Maxwell Montes (17 km above mean planetary radius)
Atmospheric Components 96% Carbon Dioxide (CO2), 3% Nitrogen (N), 0.1% Water Vapor (H2O)
Surface materials Basaltic Rock and Altered MaterialsNumber of Satellites None

Interesting Facts
Venus is a rocky planet and the second planet from the Sun
Venus spins slowly backwards as it orbits the Sun, causing its rotational period to be the longest in the Solar System
Venus is slightly smaller than Earth
Venus is the brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon because its atmosphere reflects sunlight strongly
The main component of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide, which traps heat in a greenhouse effect far stronger than on Earth, making it the hottest planet
High-speed winds cause the clouds to circle the planet in only four Earth days
The terrain is mostly craters, mountains, volcanoes, and areas where craters have been covered by plains of solidified volcanic lava