Ask an Explainer
Q:
If Venus is closer, why is there no talk of going to Venus? Why don't we have that many pictures of its surface?
A:
Venus is very much like earth in many respects, such as in size and composition. However, Venus's atomosphere is incredibly thick, which has heated the planet's surface to a balmy 462 C (about 860 F) and driven the surface pressure to about 90 times that of Earth. Sending technology to its surface is very difficult, because these variables need to be taken into account.
In comparison, Mars is about as cold as Canada. It is much easier for us to adapt our rovers to conditions we have here on Earth.
Posted on February 10, 2014 at 11:03 am
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