Earth’s Evil Twin: Terrifying Venus

Venus is the second planet from the sun and is known as our sister planet due to similarities in size, mass, and composition. However, it is also known as the most hostile planet in our solar system. Venus has an unimaginable atmospheric pressure 93 times greater than Earth’s and a temperature that reaches up to 462°C, making it the hottest planet in the Solar System. The surface of Venus is covered in volcanoes, mountains, and a smooth landscape made of basaltic rock. Venus rotates backwards compared to other planets in the solar system, with one day on Venus lasting longer than one year. This strange rotation causes the sun to rise in the west and set in the east, which is unique among planets in our solar system. Venus also has a thick cloud cover made up of sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid that traps heat, creating a greenhouse effect that contributes to its high temperatures. Despite its inhospitable conditions, Venus has been explored by various space probes, including Venera 7, which was the first spacecraft to land on another planet.