1. Venus
Earth’s Twin

2. Venus - History
• 2nd planet from the Sun.
• It is named after the goddess of beauty.
• Can you see the surface?

3. Venus - History
• Known to ancients because it has been the
brightest wandering star in the sky.
• “Evening star” or “morning star”
• Spacecraft have tried to photograph this
planet but have often failed. Why?

4. Venus - History
Can’t see the surface . . . Until the Soviets
landed the Venera 9.

5. First surface photos of Venus

6. Venus - Planet type
• Terrestrial
– Rock-like

7. Venus
• Different cameras use different wavelengths and
“see” different images.
• We get to “see” what the surface is like under the
atmosphere.
False color

8. Venus - Distance
• ~ 67 million
miles.
• 0.72 AU away
from the Sun.
• Radio signals
take 2 1/2
minutes to and
from the Earth.

9. Venus - Size
7,521 miles 7,926 miles

11. Venus - Rotation, Revolution
• Rotation =
243 days
Backwards
• Revolution =
224 days
UV light

12. Venus - Natural Satellites
None.

13. Venus - Temperatures
• High temperature =
891°F
• Low temperature =
837°F
Why so hot?

14. Venus’ Atmosphere
• Very thick.
• High pressure (90x’s)
• Windy; 200+ mph
• Mostly Carbon dioxide
• Sulfuric acid rain
• Ammonia
• Why was it hard to get
photos of the surface?

15. Venus’ Surface
Volcanic

16. Venus’ Surface (Computerized)

17. Venus
Planning on staying
for a while?

18. Just drop in!
Artist drawing
Of Pioneer.