Exhibit Codex
Venus
A dense carbon-dioxide atmosphere and thick clouds surround our nearest planetary neighbor in size.
Open interactive exhibit ↗About this exhibit
Terrestrial planet
Physical profile · seven measurements
- Mean radius
- 6,051.8 km
- Mass
- 4.86731 ×10²⁴ kg
- Bulk density
- 5.243 g/cm³
- Sidereal rotation
- 243.018 Earth days · retrograde
- Sidereal orbit
- 0.61519726 Earth years
- Equatorial gravity
- 8.87 m/s²
- Escape speed
- 10.36 km/s
Present-day reference values, rounded from JPL Solar System Dynamics. These are not reconstructed ancient measurements. Gas-giant gravity refers to a reference atmospheric level, not solid ground. Sidereal rotation differs from the solar day.
Reference and coverage
Time scaling is shared with the interactive atlas. Surface interpretations and reconstructed history have different levels of certainty.
Planetary record
Atmosphere & climate
Carbon dioxide dominates a massive atmosphere. Sulfuric-acid clouds conceal the surface. A powerful greenhouse effect keeps the surface near 465°C; pressure is roughly 92 times Earth’s sea-level pressure.
A day longer than a year
Venus rotates backwards relative to most planets. Its sidereal rotation takes about 243 Earth days, while an orbit takes about 225. A solar day, sunrise to sunrise, is about 117 Earth days.
Beneath the clouds
Radar reveals volcanic plains, mountains and extensively deformed terrain. The opaque globe shows interpreted clouds, not a photograph of the ground. Surface conditions prevent liquid-water oceans today.
Exploration & open questions
Soviet Venera landers returned measurements and images from the surface. NASA’s Magellan mapped it with radar. Scientists continue investigating volcanism, atmospheric evolution and whether early Venus could have supported water.
Interior
Venus is a rocky planet similar in size to Earth. A metallic core, silicate mantle and crust are inferred; the size and state of its core remain less well constrained than Earth’s.
Time in this exhibit
4.6 billion years ago · Cloud & disk
The young Sun is surrounded by a disk of gas and dust. Planet formation is underway.
4.54 billion years ago · Young planets
The terrestrial planets are growing through accretion and impacts. Their orbits and surfaces continue to evolve.
Present · Modern system
Eight planets orbit our Sun. This layout compresses distances and adjusts sizes to make every world accessible.
Exhibit guide
Surface & interior
Radar shows volcanic plains, highlands and strongly deformed terrain beneath the clouds. Venus is a rocky planet with a metallic core and silicate mantle.
Radar reveals volcanic plains, mountains and extensively deformed terrain. The opaque globe shows interpreted clouds, not a photograph of the ground. Surface conditions prevent liquid-water oceans today.
Venus is a rocky planet similar in size to Earth. A metallic core, silicate mantle and crust are inferred; the size and state of its core remain less well constrained than Earth’s.
Atmosphere & temperature
A dense carbon-dioxide atmosphere produces an intense greenhouse effect. Surface temperature is around 465°C, with pressure about 92 times Earth’s sea-level value.
Carbon dioxide dominates a massive atmosphere. Sulfuric-acid clouds conceal the surface. A powerful greenhouse effect keeps the surface near 465°C; pressure is roughly 92 times Earth’s sea-level pressure.
Orbit & rotation
Venus orbits in about 225 Earth days and rotates slowly in the retrograde direction. Its sidereal rotation takes about 243 Earth days.
Venus rotates backwards relative to most planets. Its sidereal rotation takes about 243 Earth days, while an orbit takes about 225. A solar day, sunrise to sunrise, is about 117 Earth days.
Moons & rings
Venus has no natural moons or rings.
Exploration
Venera landers returned surface measurements and pictures. Magellan mapped the planet with radar, providing much of the global geological context.
Soviet Venera landers returned measurements and images from the surface. NASA’s Magellan mapped it with radar. Scientists continue investigating volcanism, atmospheric evolution and whether early Venus could have supported water.
Read the detailed records
Open the full exhibit Codex for individual structure records and time-specific information. The Credits page lists source creators, licenses and adaptations.