University District in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Venus
← Mercury - Earth →
Terrestrial
Average Distance: 0.72 AU
Orbital Period: 244.7 days
Rotational Period: 243 days
Mass (Earth = 1): 0.815
Diameter (Earth = 1): 0.95
Number of Moons: 0
Average Temperature: 870°F / 465°C
Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 96.5%, Nitrogen (N2) 3.5%, Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 0.02%
Venus is similar to the Earth in mass, size and composition. Its surface is hidden beneath clouds of sulfuric acid floating in a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere with an air pressure 90 times greater than Earth's. A runaway greenhouse effect heats its surface to 870°F, even hotter than Mercury. Because the orbit of Venus is smaller than that of the Earth, we see it close to the Sun in the sky, as a "morning star" or "evening star."
It takes 6 minutes for light to travel from the Sun to Venus.
The Magellan spacecraft was launched on May 4, 1989. It traveled for 1.3 years to reach Venus.
Erected by The Ohio State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Astronomy.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is May 4, 1989.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mars (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Gateway (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jupiter (about 500 feet away); Roy J. Plunkett (approx. 0.2 miles away); Saturn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wilbur H. Siebert Collection (approx. 0.2 miles away); General Curtis E. LeMay (approx. 0.2 miles away); Freedom Brutus (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
