Venus
planet
The closest planet to Earth and the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon. Its dense carbon-dioxide atmosphere heats the surface to about 460 °C.
Data
- Type
- planet
- Equatorial radius
- 6,052 km
- Orbital period
- 224.7 days
- Rotation period
- 243 days
- Distance
- 0.72 AU
- Moons
- 0
Observing tip
Its Moon-like phases show even in a small telescope. Observe during twilight — against a dark sky Venus is dazzling.