Venus

Venus, second planet from the sun, is the brightest planet in our solar system.

Related Topics: Mercury, Earth, Mars 

Latest Updates

The day side of Venus covered in clouds as seen by Akatsuki

A mystery of sulfur clouds of Venus may be solved by new computer model

By Andrew Jones published

Scientists using new computational methods have come up with a new insight into the potential workings of the complex atmosphere of Venus.

SpaceX's Starship SN24 rocket test-fires two Raptor engines at sunset in Boca Chica, Texas on Aug. 9, 2022.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Elizabeth Howell published

See the best photos on Space.com this week.

Woman and child viewing night sky with a telescope.

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

By Joe Rao published

Reference Our viewing guide tells you which planets are visible in August's night sky and how you can see them.

ESA's next Venus orbiter was announced on June 12, 2021. ESA hopes to launch EnVision to Venus in the early 2030s.

Europe's new Venus probe will have to survive months-long scorching 'aerobrake' procedure

By Tereza Pultarova published

Europe's planned Venus exploration mission will depend on a challenging aerobraking procedure to lower its orbit, which will test the thermal resiliency of its materials to the limits.

venus surface

China's proposed Venus mission would investigate the planet's atmosphere and geology

By Andrew Jones published

If selected, a proposed Chinese mission to Venus could launch in 2026 and arrive at the scorching planet in 2027.

A view of 5 planets aligned in the morning sky with labels.

You can watch the rare 5-planet alignment in a live webcast for free today

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can watch the five naked-eye planets align for free on a livestream that will be running Sunday (June 26).

Graphic showing Venus close to the slim crescent moon in the predawn sky.

Don't miss Venus meet the moon before dawn on Sunday in gorgeous photo opportunity

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

A gorgeous photo opportunity will greet skywatchers on Sunday (June 26) when the slim crescent moon meets Venus in the early morning sky.

Wright Dobbs took this image of the five naked-eye planets from St. Cloud, Florida on June 24, 2022.

See the rare alignment of 5 planets and the moon in this stunning night sky photo

By Elizabeth Howell published

The rare sight of five bright planets lining up with the moon wowed skywatchers around the world Friday and you can still see it this weekend.

sky diagram of moon and venus

Venus and the crescent moon get together in dazzling dance early Sunday

By Joe Rao published

Get up early Sunday to see a celestial rendezvous between the two brightest objects in the night sky: Venus and the moon.

Graphic showing a line of planets and the moon across the predawn sky.

Rare alignment of 5 planets peaks Friday as crescent moon joins the parade

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

A rare planetary alignment will peak predawn on Friday (June 24) when the crescent moon joins the party. An alignment like this will not occur again until 2040.

sky map of five planets

Rare 5-planet alignment comes into better view this week. Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao published

A rare parade of planets is coming into better view in the second half of June, and even the moon will join the show.

A false-colour image of cloud features seen on Venus by the Venus Monitoring Camera (VMC) on the European Space Agency's Venus Express probe captured on 8 December 2011.

Missing microbial poop in Venus' clouds suggests the planet has no life

By Tereza Pultarova published

The odd chemical composition of Venusian clouds cannot be explained by extraterrestrial life, as the atmosphere bears no signs of alien pooping and eating, a new study found.

Sky map of the locations of Venus and Uranus on June 11, 2022.

Spot Uranus near Venus in the predawn sky on Sunday

By Tariq Malik published

The brilliant planet Venus will shine near Uranus before sunrise early Sunday (June 12). Here's how to see them.

NASA sky map of five bright visible planets before dawn in June 2022.

A 'planetary breakup' of 5 planets in the June's big stargazing sight, NASA says

By Samantha Mathewson published

The rare alignment of five naked-eye planets will begin to "break up" as they appear to grow increasingly distant from one another in the morning sky.

NASA's DAVINCI descent probe will carry a small sensor developed by students to measure the chemistry of Venus' atmosphere.

A Venus-bound mission from NASA will carry a tiny sensor built by students to the planet's hellish surface

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA's DAVINCI mission to Venus will carry a dime-sized, student-built sensor to study the ​​planet's near-surface environment.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this sequence of the 2012 transit of Venus from space.

Venus crossed the sun's face 10 years ago. Most people alive will never see the sight again.

By Tom Kerss published

On the 10th anniversary of the last transit of Venus, find out what makes these events so special and what else to look out for during the long wait for the next one.

Sand blown by wind into ripples within Victoria Crater at Meridiani Planum on Mars, as photographed by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on October 3, 2006.

What's it like to be on Venus or Pluto? We studied their sand dunes and found some clues.

By Andrew Gunn published

What is it like to be on the surface of Mars or Venus? Or even further afield, such as on Pluto, or Saturn's moon Titan?

The five naked-eye planets will be visible in the predawn sky in June 2022.

See 5 planets align in the night sky this month in a rare treat!

By Elizabeth Howell published

A "planet parade" will see all five naked-eye worlds line up in their proper orbital order from the sun in Earth's sky this month.

Sky chart of Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Saturn in the predawn sky in late May 2022.

See Mars and Jupiter shine super-close in the predawn sky this Memorial Day weekend

By Elizabeth Howell published

See Mars and Jupiter appear to practically high-five each other in the early-morning sky this Memorial Day weekend.

Image of the moon near Venus.

Watch the moon and Venus snuggle up together in a live webcast

By Elizabeth Howell published

Venus and the moon will meet up in the sky Thursday (May 26) and you can catch their greetings online.