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Venus in figures
Diameter 12104 km
Distance from the Sun 108,2 millions of kilometres
Running speed 35,02 km/s
Weight (Earth=1) 0,82
Size (Earth=1) 0,86
Average density (Water=1) 5,24
Gravitation on the surface (Earth=1) 0,902
Average overground temperature 464 °C
Length of revolution 243,01 days reversably
Length of circulation around the Sun 224,701 days
Number of moons 0

Venus

Venus is the second nearest planet to the Sun. It is similar to Earth with some of it's qualities. Unlike the Earth it hasn't got magnetosphere - protective shield sheltering the planet against harmful radiance coming from the space. It turns around it's axis of rotation for the longest time compared with the other planets of solar system. Besides this it turns reversably - that means in the reverse direction than is the straight direction (planets with straight direction rotate in the direction West - East). Reverse direction may have been caused by some kind of disaster or event in the early phase of planet's formation.

It is the most visible object in the sky after the Sun and Moon. Even ancient Greeks used to call it Hesperos (Evening Star) in the evening and Phosphortus (Morning Star) in the morning. Like Mercury it crosses the Sun disk. The last interlacement was on the 8th of December 1882 and the next are going to be on the 8th June 2008 and the 6th of June 2012.

Geological structure and the surface of the Venus

Similarity of sizes and average densities of the Earth and Venus results in conclusion, that the internal structure of both planets must be similar too. Venus has ferrous centre surrounded by stone shell and crust with similar structure like the Earth does.

About 70% of it's surface is comprised by flat terraine, 20% are circular grounds about 1,5km below the average planet's radius. The remainnig 10% occupy mountain ranges. The highest peak Maxwell Montes overtops the highest terrestrial mountains. It belongs to extensive mountain chain of Isthar Terra (Isthar's Land). This mountain chain is geological parallel of the Himalays. The longest fissure system Aphrodite Terra (Aphrodite's Land) extends along the Equator and is about 10 000kilometres long.

Atmosphere of the Venus

Surface of Venus is shielded by the layer of clouds, which reflects 60% of solar radiation. Sonds Venera, Marine and Pioneer Venus and their meassurements improved our knowledge of Venus's atmosphere.

Atmosphere extends to the height of 10 000kilometres above the planet's surface by hydrogenous corona effect, which forms the border between the atmosphere and the outer space. Hellium and even acid sulphuric prevail in the atmosphere to the height of 300kilometres under the corona effect zone. The densiest layer of clouds is about 15-20kilometres thick and accures about 60kilometres above the surface. Clouds are moving about 360kilometres per hour. The athmospheric pressure on the planet's surface overtops ninety times the one by the sea surface on the Earth. Greenhouse effect causes high surface temperature, which extends to 460-480 °C degrees. In fact it's the highest surface temperature of planets contained in the solar system.