Venus
Our brilliant, inhospitable neighbor.
How big is Venus? Venus is 12,104 km (7,521 miles) across at its equator — 0.95 times Earth’s width (about 95%) — and about 1.2 Venus-sized worlds would fit inside Earth. Gravity at the surface is 8.9 m/s², 0.91 times Earth’s.
Under its bright cloud cover, Venus has a crushing carbon dioxide atmosphere. A powerful greenhouse effect makes it hotter than Mercury, despite being farther from the Sun.
Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech. Processed mission imagery; apparent color varies with filters and processing.
Venus quick facts
| Planet type | Terrestrial planet |
|---|---|
| Equatorial diameter | 12,104 km (7,521 mi) |
| Mean radius | 6,051.8 km (3,760 mi) |
| Size compared with Earth | 0.95× as wide · 0.857× the volume |
| Equatorial circumference | 38,026 km (23,628 mi) |
| Surface area | 4.60 × 10⁸ km² |
| Volume | 9.28 × 10¹¹ km³ |
| Mass | 4.87 × 10²⁴ kg (0.816 Earth masses) |
| Mean density | 5,243 kg/m³ (5.24 g/cm³) |
| Surface gravity | 8.9 m/s² (0.91× Earth) |
| Escape velocity | 10.4 km/s |
| Length of day (solar) | 116.8 Earth days (2,802 hours) |
| Rotation period (sidereal) | 243 Earth days, retrograde |
| Orbital period (year) | 224.7 Earth days (0.62 Earth years) |
| Mean distance from the Sun | 108.2 million km (67.2 million mi) · 0.72 AU |
| Closest and farthest from the Sun | 107.5 – 108.9 million km |
| Distance from Earth | 38.2 – 261 million km |
| Sunlight travel time | 6 minutes |
| Mean orbital speed | 35 km/s |
| Axial tilt | 177.4° |
| Mean temperature | 464 °C |
| Known moons | 0 |
| Ring system | No |
Reference: NASA Planetary Fact Sheet. Rounded values; diameters are equatorial, area and volume use the mean radius. Moon counts include discoveries announced through 2025 (such as Uranus’s S/2025 U1) and keep growing as new moons are confirmed.
How big is Venus compared to Earth?
Venus’s equatorial diameter of 12,104 km makes it 0.95 times Earth’s width (about 95%). By volume, about 1.2 Venus-sized worlds would fit inside Earth. Its mass is 0.816 times Earth’s, so its average density is similar: 5,243 kg/m³ (5.24 g/cm³).
Earth’s equatorial diameter is 12,756 km (7,926 miles). See every planet to scale ↗
What is the gravity on Venus?
Gravity on Venus is about 8.9 m/s² at the surface: 0.91 times Earth’s 9.8 m/s². Someone who weighs 100 lb on Earth would weigh about 91 lb on Venus. To escape its pull, a rocket needs 10.4 km/s.
Calculate your weight on Venus ↗How far is Venus from the Sun and Earth?
Venus orbits an average 108.2 million km (67.2 million miles, 0.72 AU) from the Sun, ranging from 107.5 to 108.9 million km. Sunlight takes 6 minutes to get there. Its distance from Earth varies from about 38.2 to 261 million km.
Time sunlight’s journey ↗How long is a day and a year on Venus?
A solar day on Venus lasts 116.8 Earth days (2,802 hours), and one spin relative to the stars takes 243 Earth days, retrograde. A year — one trip around the Sun at 35 km/s — lasts 224.7 Earth days (0.62 Earth years). Its axis is tilted 177.4°.
Watch the orbit ↗Is Venus a rocky planet or a gas giant?
No. Venus is a terrestrial, or rocky, planet with a solid surface of rock and metal — one of the four inner planets with Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The gas giants are Jupiter and Saturn.
Meet all eight planets ↗Venus questions, answered
How big is Venus compared to Earth?
Venus is 12,104 km (7,521 miles) wide at its equator, 0.95 times Earth’s width (about 95%). By volume, about 1.2 Venus-sized worlds would fit inside Earth, and its mass is 0.816 times Earth’s.
What is the gravity on Venus?
Gravity on Venus is about 8.9 m/s² at the surface, or 0.91 times Earth’s. Someone who weighs 100 lb on Earth would weigh about 91 lb there; escape velocity is 10.4 km/s.
What is the mass of Venus?
Venus has a mass of about 4.87 × 10²⁴ kg, or 0.816 Earth masses. Its mean density is 5,243 kg/m³ (5.24 g/cm³).
How far is Venus from Earth?
The distance changes as both planets orbit the Sun. Venus comes within about 38.2 million km of Earth and can be as far as 261 million km away. It orbits 0.72 AU from the Sun on average.
How long is a year on Venus?
One orbit takes about 224.7 Earth days (0.62 Earth years). A solar day on Venus lasts 116.8 Earth days (2,802 hours).
Is Venus a rocky planet or a gas giant?
No. Venus is a terrestrial, or rocky, planet with a solid surface of rock and metal — one of the four inner planets with Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The gas giants are Jupiter and Saturn.
What is the density of Venus?
Venus’s mean density is 5,243 kg/m³ (5.24 g/cm³). Earth’s is 5,514 kg/m³.