How to look out for Mars?

From 27 August 2006, Earth and Mars have been closer to each other than they have been in the last 60,000 years! It has begun to appear brightly in the night sky, as seen here while looking south-east from Poodle Rock in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA. Now Mars will be the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon and Venus.

Spinning backwards

All the planets rotate from west to east on their axes, apart from Venus, which spins in the opposite direction. On the surface of Venus, the Sun appears to rise in the west and set in the east. The planet might have been hit by a huge space rock, reversing the direction of its spin.

Are there volcanoes on Venus?

There are more volcanoes on Venus than there are on Earth. About 80 per cent of the planet’s surface is made up of smooth volcanic plains, and there are two major mountain ranges with volcanoes that may be active. The peak of Maxwell Montes, the highest mountain on Venus, lies 11 kilometers (7 miles) above the surface of the planet. Mount Everest rises only about 9 kilometers (6 miles) above sea level.

Why is a day longer than a year on Venus?

Venus goes around the Sun at a very high speed. It takes only about 225 days to complete one orbit. However, it spins much more slowly on its axis, taking about 243 days to complete a rotation. Therefore, days on Venus are longer than years.

Why is Venus hotter than Mercury?

Venus has a thick atmosphere, much thicker than the Earth’s. The atmosphere is mainly carbon dioxide. This greenhouse gas traps large amounts of heat within the planet. That is why Venus is hotter than Mercury, though Mercury is closer to the Sun.

Which planet is also known as the Earth’s twin?

Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is also Earth’s closest neighbor and its size, composition, gravity and distance from the Sun are similar to the Earth’s. Venus is so similar to Earth, that it is often considered to be its twin. However, in reality, Venus is very different.