Despite Venus's slow rotation and long days and nights, the surface temperature on Venus varies very little between day and night. This minimal temperature variation is due to the planet's dense atmosphere, which is efficient at distributing heat. The atmosphere, composed mostly of carbon dioxide, creates a strong greenhouse effect that traps heat, leading to average surface temperatures of about 467 degrees Celsius (872 degrees Fahrenheit), both day and night. This consistent temperature is one of the many extreme characteristics of Venus's environment, making it markedly different from Earth.