They are both about the same size and share other physical similarities. Venus is the 3rd brightest celestial body after the Sun and the Moon. The surface of Venus is shrouded in a cloud of gas that is made up of droplets of sulfuric acid with water mixed in. The rotation of Venus is 243 days in a retrograde, or backwards, direction that is opposite all of the other planets. Venus is a perfect example of the greenhouse effect.
Sunlight passes through the clouds in the form of radiation.
The sunlight is absorbed by the surface causing it to heat. The cloud layer, which is opaque, traps the heat causing the greenhouse effect. This site is best viewed in Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher and Netscape 4.0 and higher. The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved.