In this article, we will explore interesting facts about Venus – named after the beautiful Roman goddess, known to the Greeks as Aphrodite. It is one of the hottest planets in the Solar System with a crazy atmosphere that rules out any life on its surface. Here are some interesting facts about Venus.
Interesting Facts About Venus
- Venus is a planet that astrophysicists have long called Earth’s twin sister. The density of Venus’ atmosphere is ninety-two times greater than that of Earth, and the surface pressure is comparable to the pressure at a depth of 1 km on Earth.
- There are about 1,000 craters on Venus, and they are all large because small asteroids burn up in the atmosphere before reaching the surface.
- At an altitude of about sixty kilometers above Venus’ surface, conditions are similar to Earth’s in terms of temperature and water vapor, and oxygen can be extracted from it.
- Due to Venus’ dense atmosphere, it is impossible to see its surface from space. Its entire atmosphere is a huge hurricane covering the entire celestial body.
- Another interesting fact about Venus is that the pressure on one square centimeter of Venus’ surface reaches 85 kilograms.
- Geophysicists estimate that about three hundred million years ago, there was water on Venus.
- Despite the high temperature, pressure, and lack of water and oxygen, life may still exist on Venus. Microorganisms, some algae, and bacteria can survive in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
- The two sister planets are somewhat similar to each other, but only in terms of external parameters. The geophysical environments of the two planets are different.
- Due to the lower temperature and lower atmospheric pressure, Maxwell Montes are considered an ideal landing site for spacecraft.
- We managed to collect soil samples from Venus. Appropriate scientific measurements were carried out on the samples in a ground laboratory.
- Venus has no seasons. It is very hot all year round, with terrible winds blowing, so clouds rotate around the planet in about 4 Earth days.
- A descending apparatus confirmed that a rather dim image was observed on the surface – a crimson haze and darkness because the dense clouds did not let sunlight through.
- Volcanic lava is the basis of Venus. Virtually all geological features on the planet are made of lava. Due to the high temperature, the cooling rate of Venus’ lava is very slow.
- Another interesting fact about Venus – Some scientists have proposed fundamental ways to make Venus more habitable, such as bombarding Venus’ surface with thousands of icy comets and asteroids.
- In 1961, the Soviet spacecraft “Venera-1” flew past Venus. This was the first spacecraft in history to explore the planets of the Solar System.
- There was a theory that Mercury was once a satellite of Venus, but due to some cosmic catastrophe, it was thrown into a new orbit.
- In 1965, a Soviet spacecraft landed on the planet’s surface. Although landing was difficult, it was still possible to collect scientific information.