Venus is the second planet from the sun and one of the brightest objects in our night sky. If you’re curious about this fascinating planet, here are some fun facts about Venus for kids.
1. Venus is known as the “Morning Star” and the “Evening Star” because it is the brightest planet in the sky and can be seen just before sunrise or just after sunset.
2. Venus is often called Earth’s sister planet because it is similar in size, mass and composition. However, Venus is a lot hotter than Earth because of a thick atmosphere that traps heat inside.
3. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system with a surface temperature that can reach 867 degrees Fahrenheit (464 degrees Celsius). This is hotter than the planet Mercury, which is closer to the sun.
4. Venus has the longest day of any planet in the solar system. One day on Venus is equal to 243 Earth days, but its year is only 225 Earth days.
5. Venus has no moons, making it one of the only planets in the solar system without a natural satellite.
6. Venus was named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty because it shines so brightly in our sky.
7. Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets, meaning that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east on Venus.
8. Venus is covered in thick clouds of sulfuric acid that reflect sunlight, giving it a bright, reflective surface. The clouds are so thick that we can’t see the surface of the planet from Earth.
9. Venus has the most volcanoes of any planet in the solar system, with over 1,600 identified so far. Some of these volcanoes are still active and erupt frequently.
10. Venus has been visited by several spacecraft over the years, including the Soviet Venera and Vega missions, as well as NASA’s Pioneer Venus and Magellan missions.
