Venus
Rocky planet
The hottest planet, hidden under thick, pale yellow clouds that trap heat like a greenhouse.
Key facts
- Type
- Rocky planet
- Diameter
- 12,104 km
- Average distance from the Sun
- 108.2 million km
- One orbit
- 225 Earth days
- Average temperature
- About 464 °C
- Moons
- None
About the Venus
How to recognise it
From space Venus looks smooth and creamy-white, because its surface is completely hidden by thick clouds. It is almost the same size as Earth.
What it is like
Its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat, making Venus the hottest planet, with an average temperature of about 464 °C, even though Mercury is closer to the Sun. Venus spins very slowly and in the opposite direction to most planets.
Sources
Facts checked: 29 October 2026
