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Venus's atmosphere is composed of 96.5% carbon dioxide and 3.5% nitrogen, with other chemical compounds present only in trace amounts. [1] It is much denser and hotter than that of Earth; the temperature at the surface is 740 K (467 °C, 872 °F), and the pressure is 93 bar (1,350 psi), roughly the pressure found 900 m (3,000 ft) under water on ...
Learn about Venus' thick atmosphere, which traps heat and makes it the hottest planet in our solar system. Explore its surface features, such as volcanoes and deformed mountains, and its potential for life in the clouds.
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- Atmospheric Composition
- Clouds and Atmospheric Layers
- Climate and Weather
- Was Venus Always This Hellish?
- Potential For Life
- Venus Atmosphere Expert Q&A
Venus' atmosphere is made up of 96% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen and 1% other gases. These other gases are mainly sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, helium, argon and neon, according to NASA. Researchers have also found a small amount of oxygen in a thin layer of the planet's atmosphere, though it is atomic oxygen (O), not the molecular o...
Venus' clouds encircle the entire planet and are made mostly of sulfuric acid, with small amounts of solid sulfur, nitrosylsulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, according to Britannica. They are extremely thick. The main portion extends from about 30 to 42 miles (48 to 68 km) above the planet's surface. Thinner hazes reach from about 20 to 56 miles (3...
Apart from the sun, the surface of Venus is the hottest thing in the solar system. It's even hotter than the surface of Mercury, which is closer to the sun. This is due to Venus' thick, heat-trapping atmosphere and its runaway greenhouse effect. Venus' surface can reach 860 degrees Fahrenheit (460 degrees Celsius), which is hot enough to melt lead....
Researchers think Venus used to be an Earth-like planetcovered with oceans. The sun was cooler and dimmer billions of years ago, but as it became brighter and hotter, Venus' ocean started to evaporate. This evaporation is thought to have kicked off Venus' runaway greenhouse effect. Large amounts of water vapor, which is a greenhouse gas, evaporated...
Despite Venus' hellish conditions, there has been speculation that its atmosphere could harbor life, but this is hotly debated. Portions of Venus' atmosphere are cooler and have less-harsh conditions than its surface. Because life could have evolved in the planet's early, Earth-like history, some researchers think life might have adaptedto Venus' c...
Additional Resources
Ever wondered what it's like to stand on the surface of Venus, this Planetary Society article explores what it would feel like. Learn more about past, current and future missions to Venus on NASA's website and these resources from the Planetary Society
Bibliography
NASA, "Venus: Facts." https://science.nasa.gov/venus/facts/ The Planetary Society, "Venus, Earth's twin sister." https://www.planetary.org/worlds/venus The Planetary Society, "What would it be like to stand on the surface of Venus?" https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-would-it-be-like-to-stand-on-the-surface-of-venus Cabbage, Michael and Leslie MacCarthy, "NASA climate modeling suggests Venus may have been habitable," NASA. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2475/nasa-climate-modeling-suggests...
Venus has the most massive atmosphere of the terrestrial planets, which include Mercury, Earth, and Mars. Its gaseous envelope is composed of more than 96 percent carbon dioxide and 3.5 percent molecular nitrogen. Trace amounts of other gases are present, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, water vapour, argon, and helium.
Learn about Venus' thick atmosphere, which traps heat and makes it the hottest planet in our solar system. Explore its surface features, such as volcanoes and deformed mountains, and its potential for life in the clouds.
Venus has a thick atmosphere that traps heat and makes it the hottest planet in our solar system. Learn about its history, surface, clouds, and why it is an unlikely place for life as we know it.
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