Page 267 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Venus SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Atmosphere p.33
▸ ▸ Earth p.83
Venus is a rocky planet that is only slightly smaller ▸ ▸ Gases p.117
than Earth. It is the second planet away from the sun, ▸ ▸ Mercury p.161
and sits between Mercury and Earth. Venus spins very ▸ ▸ Solar system p.233

slowly and has the longest day of all the planets in ▸ ▸ Temperature p.252
the solar system. ▸ ▸ Volcanoes p.268

Harsh planet Venus has
Venus’s rocky surface is extremely hot. thousands
of volcanoes
Temperatures can reach more than on its surface.
878°F (470°C), which is hot enough
to melt metal.

Maat Mons is the biggest
volcano on Venus. It is
245 miles (395 km) wide.

Atmosphere
Venus is surrounded by a
thick layer of poisonous gases. Sulphur gas in
This atmosphere makes it the clouds
hard for scientists to see makes Venus Much of Venus’s
Venus’s surface. appear yellow. surface is covered
with solid rock that
used to be liquid.

Transit of Venus Sun
Venus is closer to the sun than
the Earth is. We sometimes see
Venus moving in front of the
sun. It looks like a small, dark
disk moving across the bright
Sun. This is called the transit Venus
of Venus.

265

US_265_Venus.indd 265 16/05/2017 09:51