Venus
Mars
Diameterkm
12,104
6,779
Mass (Earth = 1)x
0.81
0.11
Surface Gravitym/s²
8.87
3.72
Mean Temperature°C
+462
-65
Distance from SunAU
0.72
1.52
Orbital Perioddays
224.7
687
Day Lengthhours
2802.00
24.66
Known Moons
0
2
Axial Tilt°
177.36
25.19
Orbital Velocitykm/s
35.02
24.07
Quick Facts
Venus
- -Venus spins so slowly that its day (243 Earth days) is longer than its year (225 Earth days).
- -Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system at 462°C, despite Mercury being closer to the Sun.
- -Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, so the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east.
- -The atmospheric pressure on Venus's surface is 92 times that of Earth -- like being 900 meters underwater.
Mars
- -Olympus Mons on Mars is about 21.9 km tall -- nearly three times the height of Mount Everest.
- -A Martian day (sol) is 24 hours and 37 minutes, remarkably similar to an Earth day.
- -Mars has seasons like Earth because its axial tilt (25.19°) is very similar to Earth's (23.44°).
- -Dust storms on Mars can grow large enough to engulf the entire planet and last for months.