Venus,
Earth's
Twin?
We probably have all heard that Venus is Earth's twin, well that's what everyone thought in the early 1900's. People even thought that Venus might even have ponds, dinosaurs and rain, but why did people think Venus was Earth's twin? Maybe because Venus and Earth have so much in common. Venus being the second planet is the closest planet to Earth. Venus's year has 225 days in its year which makes it the closest in days to Earth.
In the 1960's astronomers discovered that Venus was not like the Earth at all. Astronomers learned that the clouds around Venus never left or blew away, causing the "greenhouse" effect on Venus. The "greenhouse" effect is when the walls keep the hot air in, not letting any air out. The clouds around Venus are like the walls, the clouds are holding the hot air in. That's what makes the weather on Venus so hot.The highest recorded temperature on Venus is 850 F, while the Earth's highest recorded temperature is 136 F.
The theory of Venus having rain was very wrong. The substance that comes out of the clouds surrounding Venus is poison that would kill us. Venus also lacks in oxygen and has no ponds or puddles, but rivers of glowing red metal. Venus also is the only planet without moons!
But, Venus does have valleys canyons
and mountains. In fact it has some of the largest mountains of all! Venus's
highest known peak is Maxwell Montes. Maxwell Montes is about six miles
high,
making it more than a mile higher than Mt.Everest. Some of Venus's mountains
may even be active volcanoes.
Astronomers of the early 1900's were incorrect in thinking that Venus was Earth's twin. They are in fact two very different planets
For more information visit the following sites:
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/venus/venus.html
