Did you know? In our solar system there is a planet that spins so slowly that one day lasts longer than one year — Venus.
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How can a day be longer than a year?
Venus takes about 243 Earth days to rotate once on its axis, but only about 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun. So one full spin takes longer than its year.
Note: measured from one sunrise to the next (a solar day), a day on Venus lasts about 117 Earth days, because it spins backwards while moving along its orbit.
The Sun rises in the west
Most planets spin in the same direction, but Venus spins backwards. Standing on Venus, you would see the Sun rise in the west and set in the east. Scientists are not sure why; one idea is that a huge impact long ago changed its spin.
The hottest planet
Mercury is closer to the Sun, but Venus is hotter: its surface is above 460°C, hot enough to melt lead. Its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat (a runaway greenhouse effect), and the air pressure at the surface is about 90 times that of Earth.
Summary
- One rotation ≈ 243 Earth days
- One orbit ≈ 225 Earth days
- Spins backwards — the Sun rises in the west
- The hottest planet in the solar system
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📚 Sources: NASA Science — Venus Facts
