Venus – Facts and Information about the Planet Venus

Venus is swathed in a thick atmosphere that is difficult for scientists to peer through.

How long is a day on Venus? It's always changing, new study reveals

By Meghan Bartels

Astronomers have long struggled to pin down how long a day lasts on Venus, but new research suggests the difficulty stems not from flawed measurements but from real variations in the planet's spin.

The brightest planets in May's night sky: How to see them (and when)

By Joe Rao

Here's how to see planets visible in May's night sky.

An image of Venus taken on July 11, 2020, by an instrument on NASA's Parker Solar Probe.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe captures stunning Venus photo during close flyby

By Meghan Bartels

NASA's Parker Solar Probe nailed its fourth swing past Venus on Feb. 20, and mission scientists celebrated by releasing a stunning image captured during a similar maneuver in July.

Clouds as seen from the International Space Station over Africa in 2017.

Earth's atmosphere is full of microbes. Could they help us find life on other worlds?

By Meghan Bartels

If you're feeling lonely, take solace in remembering that there are countless tiny living things floating tens of thousands of feet above your head.

In 2020, scientists announced the potential discovery of phosphine in in the clouds of Venus, sparking speculation on its implications for life.

The 10 biggest space discoveries and stories of 2020

By Doris Elin Urrutia

This year saw a new age of sample-retrieval missions, protests against a telescope, an incredible visit from a dazzling comet and the ''great conjunction'' of Saturn and Jupiter.

An artist's depiction of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft flying past Venus.

Hello, Venus! Solar Orbiter spacecraft makes first swing past planet

By Meghan Bartels

The joint U.S.-European Solar Orbiter spacecraft had an appointment with Venus this morning, the first in a series of planetary flybys to hone the probe's orbit on its journey to the sun.

An artist's depiction of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft skimming past Venus.

Europe's Solar Orbiter is headed for a holiday flyby of Venus

By Meghan Bartels

The Solar Orbiter spacecraft will tackle an important milestone as its operators and scientists on Earth mark the holiday season.

A view of Venus from NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft based on data captured in 1974.India is now planning to launch its own Venus orbiter in 2024.

India to launch Shukrayaan Venus mission in 2024 after pandemic delays: reports

By Elizabeth Howell

India plans to launch a new orbiter to Venus a year later than planned in 2024, according to media reports, although the country's space agency hasn't published an update to its website yet.

The European-Japanese BepiColombo Mercury mission captured this view of the planet Venus during a flyby on Oct. 15, 2020, its first of two by the planet on the mission's way to orbit Mercury.

Watch Venus glide by in this serene video from the BepiColombo spacecraft's flyby

By Chelsea Gohd

A European-Japanese spacecraft just flew by Venus on its long, winding road to Mercury, snapping some stellar photos along the way.

BepiColombo spacecraft swings past Venus on long road to Mercury

By Meghan Bartels

It's a long, looping journey from Earth through the inner solar system to reach Mercury, but scenery can make any circuitous trip more exciting.

An artist's depiction of a Venus rock hitting the moon.

Pieces of Venus may be hiding on the moon

By Meghan Bartels

The moon may be hiding the scientific key to the mysterious past of our neighboring world, Venus.

A NASA illustration shows the Pioneer 13 probes descending toward the clouds of Venus.

Did NASA detect a hint of life on Venus in 1978 and not realize it?

By Rafi Letzter

What if scientists had started hunting for life on Venus in 1978?

An image of Venus' thick atmosphere captured by NASA's Mariner 10 mission.

Did a migrating Jupiter turn Venus into hell?

By Paul Sutter

The giant planet's long-ago migration likely had big impacts.

simulation of the surface of Venus, with the Northern Hemisphere displayed

'Grand claims' of life on Venus lack evidence, skeptics say

By Adam Mann

A roundup of the various pushback and criticisms to the claim that there could be life on Venus

This image of Venus was created using data that NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft collected on Feb. 7 and 8, 1974, shortly after the spacecraft's closest approach to Venus on Feb. 5.

Earth life may have traveled to Venus aboard sky-skimming asteroid

By Mike Wall

If there is indeed life on Venus, it may have come from Earth — aboard an asteroid that scooped up microbes high in our skies.

A computer-simulated view of the northern hemisphere of Venus.

Meet Calypso, a daredevil mission concept to explore the surface of Venus

By Paul Sutter

Of all the rocky, inner worlds of the solar system, Venus is the most challenging to explore.

An artist's depiction of a fleet of probes approaching Venus.

After a tantalizing discovery at Venus, what could an astrobiology mission look like?

By Meghan Bartels

Suddenly, a mission to investigate whether Venus might be hospitable to life after all doesn't seem quite so outlandish.

Here's every successful Venus mission humanity has ever launched

By Elizabeth Howell

This slideshow shows every successful Venus mission in history, according to information from NASA.

Rocket Lab's plan to search for life on Venus in 2023 just got more exciting

By Mike Wall

Rocket Lab's life-hunting Venus mission in 2023 will be just the beginning, if all goes according to the company's plan.

An artist's concept showing a super-Venus on the left and Earth on the right.

Venus, once billed as Earth's twin, is a hothouse (and a tantalizing target in the search for life)

By Nola Taylor Redd

As Earth's twin, Venus offers much in the search for life and habitable worlds.