Venus has one of the strangest clocks in our Solar System.
How Long Is a Venusian Day?
243 Earth Days|
Venus takes about 243 Earth days to rotate once on its axis.That’s one incredibly long day!
What About Its Year?
Just 225 Earth Days!
Venus completes one trip around the Sun in about 225 Earth days.So...One Venusian rotation takes longer than one Venusian year.
Imagine Living on Venus
If you could somehow live there:
One full rotation = 243 daysOne orbit around the Sun = 225 daysThe "day" would outlast the "year"!
Why Is the Day So Long?
If you could somehow live there:
Venus rotates extremely slowly compared with Earth.It takes almost 8 Earth months for Venus to complete one rotation.
And Venus Spins Backward
There's Another Twist!
Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets in our Solar System.Because of this unusual rotation, the Sun would appear to rise in the west and set in the east.
There's a Difference
The 243 Earth days refers to Venus completing one rotation relative to distant stars.A solar day — from one sunrise to the next — is much shorter, about 117 Earth days.
Venus Is Full of Surprises!
243 days: one rotation
225 days: one trip around the Sun
117 days: one sunrise to the nextSo yes — a Venusian day can be longer than its year!