Venus
)
)
Second planet from the Sun. It can approach Earth to within 38 million km/24 million mi, closer than any other planet. Its mass is 0.82 that of Earth. Venus rotates on its axis more slowly than any other planet, from east to west, the opposite direction to the other planets (except Uranus and the dwarf planet Pluto).
Mean distance from the Sun
108.2 million km/67.2 million miEquatorial diameter
12,100 km/7,500 miRotation period
243 Earth daysYear
225 Earth daysAtmosphere
Venus is shrouded by clouds of sulphuric acid droplets that sweep across the planet from east to west every four days. The atmosphere is almost entirely carbon dioxide, with an atmospheric pressure of 90 times that at the surface of the Earth. The gas traps the Sun's heat by the greenhouse effect and raises the planet's surface temperature to 480°C/900°FSurface
consists mainly of silicate rock and may have an interior structure similar to that of Earth: an iron-nickel core, a mantle composed of more mafic rocks (rocks made of one or more ferromagnesian, dark-coloured minerals), and a thin siliceous outer crust. The surface is dotted with deep impact craters. Some of Venus's volcanoes may still be activeSatellites
no moonsThe first artificial object to hit another planet was the Soviet probe Venera 3, which crashed on Venus on 1 March 1966. Later Venera probes parachuted down through the atmosphere and landed successfully on its surface, analysing surface material and sending back information and pictures. In December 1978, NASA's Pioneer Venus probe went into orbit around the planet and mapped most of its surface by radar, which penetrates clouds. During four years from August 1990 the US space probe Magellan mapped 99% of the planet's surface to a resolution of 100 m/330 ft. The European Space Agency plans a mapping mission called the Venus Express, to begin in 2006 and last about 17 months.
The largest highland area is Aphrodite Terra near the equator, half the size of Africa. The highest mountains are on the northern highland region of Ishtar Terra, where the massif of Maxwell Montes rises to 10,600 m/35,000 ft above the average surface level. The highland areas on Venus were formed by volcanoes.
Venus has an ion-packed tail 45 million km/28 million mi in length that stretches away from the Sun and is caused by the bombardment of the ions in Venus's upper atmosphere by the solar wind. It was first discovered in the late 1970s but it was not until 1997 that the Solar Heliospheric Observatory revealed its immense length.
Venus
)
In Roman mythology, the goddess of love and beauty, equivalent to the Greek Aphrodite. The patricians of Rome claimed descendance from her son, the Trojan prince Aeneas, and she was consequently venerated as the guardian of the Roman people. Venus was also worshipped as a goddess of military victory and patroness of spring.
A number of lavish temples were dedicated to her in Rome, particularly splendid examples being built by the emperors Caesar in 46 BC and Hadrian in AD 135.
OriginVenus was a long-established deity, and may originally have been a goddess of gardens. Her association with the Greek Aphrodite was apparent by the 3rd century BC, the worship of Venus Erycina being introduced from Sicily at the beginning of the second Punic War in 218 BC. Other titles under which she was worshipped at Rome were Obsequens, Postvorta, Genetrix, and Victrix. |
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|
?Sign in  |
|---|