Top 10 Questions About Venus That Kids Often Ask and Scientific Answers

1. Does Venus have volcanoes?

Tell the child: Venus has more volcanoes than any other planet in the Solar System. Astronomers have counted 1,600 volcanoes on the surface of Venus, but this number could be even higher due to their small size that we can't see. Scientists believe that most of the volcanoes on Venus are dormant, although some may still be active.

Did you know: The majority of Venus's surface is a volcanic plain, some covered with a thin layer of soil and patchy, in sharp contrast to Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Some volcano vents are active, but Venus is similar to Earth in having far fewer volcanic vents than most rocky planets are mostly covered by them. This is partly because Venus's thick atmosphere interrupts small impacts before they reach the surface, but the hollowness of large volcano vents may be due to volcanic resurfacing, which could be a horrific process. Geological studies on a planet are challenging, requiring a lot of specialized knowledge that a child may not understand. That's why you should use simple, familiar words to accurately convey your answer.

2. Is Venus considered Earth's twin?

Tell the child: Among all the planets in the Solar System, Venus shares the most similarities with Earth. Both planets have nearly the same size, and Venus's composition is also similar to Earth. The orbit of Venus is closer to Earth's orbit than any other planet in the Solar System. Both planets have relatively young surfaces and thick atmospheres with many clouds (though Venus's clouds are mainly toxic gas).

Keep in mind: Venus's volume and mass are similar to Earth's. It also has an atmosphere that reflects sunlight, making it shine. In the past, people believed Venus and Earth were 'twin sisters,' possibly harboring life. From 1961 to the present, the Soviet Union launched 14 probes to explore Venus, discovering that Venus's atmosphere is a layer of both hot and dense sulfuric acid clouds. The main components of Venus's atmosphere are CO2, accounting for 97%, with higher amounts of argon and neon (Ar and Ne) than Earth's atmosphere. The surface pressure of Venus is 90 atm, equivalent to the pressure at a depth of 900m below the sea on Earth. Such high pressure causes the entire Venus to undergo the 'greenhouse effect,' with the surface temperature reaching 480°C. For this question, you need evidence to explain your answer. However, remember to use evidence that is simple, understandable, and suitable for the child's comprehension.

Tell the child: Venus is a unique planet; it only experiences two days in a year. Venus is one of two planets in the solar system that rotates on its axis clockwise. Its rotation is exceptionally slow, making a day on Venus equal to 243 Earth days. Interestingly, this day on Venus is even longer than its year, which is only 225 Earth days.

Keep in mind: One orbit around the Sun for Venus is equivalent to 225 days on Earth, while one rotation on its axis is 243 days. Because these two rotations are in opposite directions, looking from Venus towards the Sun, it appears to rise in the west and set in the east. Due to these opposite rotations, a day and night on Venus are much shorter than its rotation time. Calculations show that a day and night on Venus last 117 days, with each daytime and nighttime period being 59 days. Venus's '1 year' is approximately equal to its '2 days.' If you answer this question in the usual way, the child may find it dull and be less inclined to explore this topic. However, we need to incorporate various knowledge around the main answer to help the child broaden their understanding.

Tell the child: The air pressure on the surface of Venus is extremely high, about 90 times the pressure at sea level on Earth. In other words, the pressure on Venus is equivalent to the pressure of the Earth's ocean at a depth of 1 km. Therefore, standing on Venus is similar to standing under the ocean at a depth of 1 km without protective clothing. In conclusion: We cannot stand on Venus like on Earth.

Keep in mind: The air pressure on the surface of Venus is extremely high, about 90 times the pressure at sea level on Earth. In other words, the pressure on Venus is equivalent to the pressure of the Earth's ocean at a depth of 1 km. The Russian spacecraft, Venera, actually landed on the planet's surface and sent back beautiful images of the harsh conditions on the ground. However, with extreme heat, pressure, and other harsh conditions, the spacecraft did not last long after landing. The concept of air pressure might be challenging for the child, but simplifying it into an understandable form will help the child grasp the topic better.

Talking to the little one: Previously, people thought Venus and Earth were 'twin sisters' that might have life. However, scientists have discovered that Venus's atmosphere is mainly composed of CO2, accounting for 97%, with a higher concentration of toxic gases compared to Earth's atmosphere. The surface pressure on Venus is equivalent to the pressure at a depth of 900m underwater on Earth. Such high pressure causes the entire planet to experience the 'greenhouse effect,' and the temperature on Venus's surface rises to 480 degrees Celsius.

Need to know: Due to the predominantly carbon dioxide atmosphere, a massive greenhouse effect occurs on Venus, causing the planet's surface to heat up. The temperature can reach up to 470 degrees Celsius, making Venus the hottest planet in the Solar System. Some scientists once believed that Venus had oceans in the past, but they evaporated as the planet's temperature increased due to an uncontrollable greenhouse effect. The entire surface of Venus is a dry, barren desert with rocks and dust. For this question, you should guide and explain the composition of the atmosphere on Venus before providing the official answer. This way, the child will understand the issue more easily.

Talking to the little one: In the Solar System, Venus is not the largest planet, but its proximity to Earth makes it the brightest star in the sky. It is also the second brightest object at night, second only to the Moon. Venus reaches its maximum brightness near sunset or sunrise, earning it the nicknames 'Evening Star' (when the planet rises at sunset) and 'Morning Star' (when it rises at sunrise).

Need to know: Because Venus sometimes appears in the East at sunrise and other times in the West after the Sun has set, it is called both the 'Morning Star' and the 'Evening Star.' As an inferior planet, when observed from Earth, it always appears near the Sun. When it moves to the West of the Sun, it will rise in the East before sunrise, and we call it the 'Morning Star.' When it moves to the East of the Sun, it will appear in the Western sky after sunset, and we call it the 'Evening Star.' Thus, both the Morning and Evening Stars cannot be seen in the middle of the night and cannot be visible on the same day. This question involves observational skills; explain it to the child in this way and enjoy stargazing together to add an extra touch of excitement.

Talking to the little one: Venus is among the rare planets that we can observe as it passes in front of the Sun. Earth is the third planet in the Solar System, so we can only observe this event with two planets: Venus and Mercury. Venus passing in front of the Sun is a very rare phenomenon, occurring only once in over a century, approximately every 8 years.

Need to know: The transit of Venus is one of the most predictable and rare astronomical events. It repeats in a cycle of 243 years, with each pair of transit events occurring about 8 years apart, followed by a long gap of approximately 121.5 years and 105.5 years. Such a long cycle is due to the ratio between Earth's and Venus's orbital periods, which is close to the rational ratio of 8:13 and 243:395. You don't need to provide specific numbers when answering the child's question because it might be too complex for them. Simplify the explanation to the child's understanding; a general overview of the topic is the best choice.

Tell the little one: The winds on Venus blow at super-sonic speeds, reaching velocities much higher than the most powerful hurricanes on Earth. The winds on Venus are so fast that they cause 'super-rotation,' making the clouds whirl around the planet in just 4 days on Earth.

Here's something to know: The thermal inertia and heat transport by winds in the atmosphere near the surface show that the surface temperature of Venus doesn't vary much between day and night, even though the planet has an extremely slow rotation. The wind speed near the surface is low, blowing at a speed of a few kilometers per hour. However, due to the high density of the atmosphere near the surface, the wind exerts a strong force on the obstacles it blows over, transporting dust and small rocks across the planet's surface. Definitions of inertia, velocity may not capture the child's attention, but if you give a specific example of how a wind moves on this planet, it will be much more interesting for the child.

Tell the little one: Humans have been observing Venus for thousands of years. According to records, as far back as 1,600 years before the Common Era, ancient Babylonians tracked the orbit of this planet in the sky. The Greek mathematician Pythagoras was the first to discover that the brightest stars in the early morning and evening sky were actually one - Venus.

Here's something to know: The first robotic space mission sent to Venus, and also the first human-made spacecraft to visit another planet, began on February 12, 1961, with the launch of Venera 1. The spacecraft successfully launched on a direct path in the Venera program but lost contact with Earth about seven days after launch when the spacecraft was 2 million km away. Russian scientists planned for it to pass Venus at a distance of 100,000 km in mid-May 1961. If you talk to the child about the formal research periods of this planet, it may be too much information, and the child may not want to listen. Just highlight the figures showing that this has been a long time, and it will be easier for the child to understand.

Tell the little one: While other planets have numerous moons, for example, Jupiter with 63 moons, Venus has no moons. Venus and Mercury are the only two planets without any natural satellites orbiting them in the Solar System. However, Venus has moon phases similar to Earth's Moon.

Here's something to know: On the Moon, the phase cycle is 29 days, also known as a lunar month. Since Venus orbits the Sun within Earth's orbital range, it experiences phases like the Moon. When Venus is on the opposite side of the Sun, it's in the full phase (like a full moon), and when it lies between Earth and the Sun, meaning it's in the new phase (like a new moon). The first person to witness these phases was the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1610. Saying that Venus doesn't have a moon is a dull answer; instead, give examples of other planets in the Solar System and then provide the correct answer to stimulate the child's curiosity, making them want to hear more.