Living on Planet Venus: Why It Would Be Hard (Infographic)

By Karl Tate
published

Chart of conditions on the planet Venus
Crushing atmospheric pressure and temperatures of hundreds of degrees make survival on Venus rather challenging. (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

Venus is nearly identical in size to Earth, but the environment there is harsh. The air pressure is 92 times Earth's, and the atmosphere is

composed of 96 percent carbon dioxide.

 

Full Story: What Would It Be Like to Live on Venus?

 

Astronauts on Venus would have to contend with temperatures of up to 870 degrees Fahrenheit (465 degrees Celsius) – hotter than Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. [Amazing Photos of Venus: A Gallery]

 

Venus' day is actually longer than its year. The planet also rotates backward, compared with the other planets of the solar system. 

 

10 Strange Facts About Venus

Read our full special report: 

Living on Other Planets: What Would It Be Like?Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on the moon? What about Mars, or Venus or Mercury? Find out what it might be like to live on other worlds in our solar system, from Mercury to Pluto and beyond in our 12-part series.

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Karl Tate
Karl Tate
Space.com contributor

Karl's association with Space.com goes back to 2000, when he was hired to produce interactive Flash graphics. From 2010 to 2016, Karl worked as an infographics specialist across all editorial properties of Purch (formerly known as TechMediaNetwork).  Before joining Space.com, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web.  He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University and now works as a freelance graphic designer in New York City.