Facts about Planet Venus

The Discovery of Planet Venus
In ancient Roman mythology, Venus was
known as the god of love, beauty, and
fertility (derived from the representation of
the Greek goddess, Aphrodite). This Roman
religious belief gave birth to the name of a
celestial body, hence the name of the planet
Venus. Venus is the nearest neighboring
planet of the Earth, sitting second from the
sun in the arrangement of the solar system. It
has earned its place as the 6th largest planet,
and is the only one of its kind with a
clockwise revolution from the sun. Venus is
also the brightest bulb in the sky seen by the
unaided eye.
The location, size, orbital behavior, and
visibility, are characteristics and distinctions
that represent the various theories surrounding the discovery of planet Venus. The questions that
lie on who, when, and how it was discovered, are justified by the following series of events:
The Morning and the Evening Star: The Visibility of Venus
The planet Venus has been observed by humans long before it was even known to be a
planet. Venus has been easily spotted by early human settlers because of its extreme brightness
among the rest. During the prehistoric times, Venus was said to be thought of as having two
different entities. Because it consistently moved in the sky from time to time, it earned an
identity seen at sunrise that differs from the other seen at sunset. Hence, it was referred to as both
the Morning Star, as well as the Evening Star.
Pythagoras' Theory: Identifying the Morning and Evening Star
Pythagoras was the first to discover that the two distinctions seen on separate times of the
day, was indeed one and the same object. This revelation was of course true, however, it was
backed up by an incorrect theory that the celestial body revolves around the Earth.
The Copernican Model of the Solar System: Venus as a Planet
The conceptualization of a sun-centered solar system was developed by Nicolaus Copernicus
in the 16th century. This led to the discovery that Venus is a planet (along with Earth, Mars,
Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn), and that it is revolving around the sun.

---

Galileo's Revelation: The Phases of Venus
In 1610, Galileo Galilei observed through
a telescope, that the planet gradually changes
to different phases as the night continues. And
with each phase it goes through, the planet
appears larger. The phases began from a fully
illuminated sphere, to a half-sphere, and then
becoming crescent-shaped. Galileo concluded
that the phases meant that Venus orbits the
sun, and that the size associated with each
phase, meant that it is moving closer to the
Earth. The observation of Galileo confirmed
Copernicus' concept of the solar system, and
debunked Pythagoras' theory that Venus
revolves around Earth.
Additional Discoveries
Venus is filled with sulfuric acid clouds which are extremely hot. The high temperature
causes all of its bodies of water to evaporate. Its surface is even said to have a higher temperature
than that of Mercury. The core component of Venus and its size are similar to that of the Earth's.
As with the planet's clockwise rotation, it was astronomer Robert Richardson who made the
interesting discovery.
Revelations often take the form of a gift wrapped in several boxes. To find out what's inside,
the present has to be unwrapped more than once. These historical events show that there was no
single or sole observation, but rather a series of observations over the course of time that led to
the discovery of planet Venus.

---

Planet Venus - A Place Like Dante's Hell
If one finds himself entering the depths of hell, one should be prepared for what is in store
for him. As in Dante's Inferno, "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here". In a place where
darkness looms, where infinite despair and suffering await the treacherous soul, indeed no hope
can peep through any walls. There is no light that shines, only balls of blazing molten rocks from
the core of the underworld.
If any place would be like
hell; more so if it were in any
way similar to Dante Alighieri's
version of it, it is of certainty
that no living person or thing
can survive in it. Whether the
concept of such horrific world
exists or not, there is no telling
for sure how things will be like
outside the only world people
are familiar with: Earth. And
considering the mere fact that
the Earth's "twin planet" sits
very close to the sun, it is not
impossible to imagine the
connotation on planet Venus: a
place like Dante's Hell.
Venus is known to have extreme atmospheric composition. It is mainly made up of carbon
dioxide, and is also abundant in Nitrogen. Its middle layers contain sulfur dioxide. This gas
creates a tremendously foul stench, and is also found in Venus' cloud composition of sulfuric
acid. Due to the planet's excessive amount of carbon dioxide, it experiences runaway greenhouse
effects. Once the sun's heat enters the walls of Venus, the chances of it bouncing back to space,
is slim to none. The extreme heat abruptly wipes out any traces of evidence that there are bodies
of water that may exist (or have existed) in the planet.
Ironic to the planet's proximity to the sun, thick clouds of sulfuric acid consistently cover the
skies, leaving not much room for sunlight to enter. If it were to be compared to a type of weather
here on Earth, it could be similar to heavy, opaque clouds that pile up when a tornado is about to
wreck havoc. Only difference is, the thick clouds block the blue light, making the thick clouds
appear tinted with boding evil red. Moreover, since these clouds are a lot like storm clouds,
heavy rains also pour for days on end (heavy sulfuric acid rain for that matter).

---

Venus is also home to thousands of volcanoes, with its biggest sizing to about 500 km across
and 3 km wide. Pools of ferocious lava spread across the Venus grounds, as if taking the place of
water. But perhaps the most hell-like attribute of Venus is the hostile condition of its surface.
With a temperature of about 700 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and with a surface pressure
exceeding that of the Earth over 90 times, no man would be caught unwilling to repent for his
sins if shown of such fate after death.
Contrary to the planet's alias as
the Earth's "twin sister", the picture
painted of what Venus is like up
close, is in many ways more like hell
(or better yet, Earth's "evil sister").
Despite the fact that both the Earth
and Venus share similar size and
mass characteristics, it is not
difficult to see that they differ from
each other far more than they are
alike.
Venus can also be seen as a
representation of the effects of
man's incessant polluting behavior.
If people do not make an effort to
counter global warming, it is likely
that the Earth would experience runaway greenhouse effects. It is likely that with the use of
harmful sources of energy, the gasses carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and sulfur oxide would be more
abundant than oxygen. Bodies of water that are vital to life will eventually dry up and will be
replaced by sulfuric acid rain.
In other words, Venus may be the reflection of Earth's future destiny if man does not cease to
change his ways. Whichever way it is understood, it serves as a pun intended to warn man of his
fate; planet Venus: a place like Dante's hell.

---

The Planet Venus in Fact and Fiction
The mystery of the outside world has baffled man since the dawn of time. And because of the
Earth's atmospheric composition that allows all forms of life to cultivate, it is only natural for
man to question if other planets possess similar qualities that are essential for any signs of life to
exist.
For many years, Venus has been considered the "twin sister" of Earth. This is true on certain
aspects, and is also false on many levels. In order to get a clearer analysis of this connotation,
let's take a look at the planet Venus in fact and fiction.
Speculation on Venus
Many people consider the possibility of Venus as a life-supporting planet. This speculation is
due to the fact that Venus and Earth have relatively substantial similarities:
* Apart from the fact that Venus is the nearest neighbor of Earth, research also shows that
both planets have almost the same size, density and composition. The types of surface features
that were discovered in Venus include mountains, volcanoes, and rift valleys.
* Venus is said to be experiencing greenhouse effect, which is not a foreign environmental
problem that people experience on Earth.
* Studies have concluded that water is present in Venus. The surface of the planet is entirely
covered with thick, dense clouds that shower the surface with rain. The clouds are so thick,
making it nearly impossible for astronomers of earlier years to peep through and observe what's

---

beneath. But because of the evident cloud formations seen in its surface, it led people to
speculate that oceans and swampy jungles fill the planet.
Facts That Disprove the Speculation
Even though Venus resembles a lot of qualities that the Earth possesses, the differences
prove more hostility in the planet's condition than the speculation that it supports life:
* The surface temperature
of Venus is about 700 to 900
degrees Fahrenheit. Its surface
temperature is even said to be
higher than Mercury's, despite
the fact that Venus only comes
second to its proximity to the
sun. The volcanoes in Venus
are massive and are more
abundant than any other
surface feature it has. Vicious
lava fills the planet's floor like
oceans of fire.
* Venus' atmosphere is
primarily composed of carbon
dioxide, nitrogen, and sulfur
dioxide. The excessive amount
of carbon dioxide present in its
atmosphere explains the greenhouse effect that the planet experiences. More specifically, Venus
experiences what is known as the runaway greenhouse effect. Almost all of the heat that Venus
absorbs from the sun gets trapped in its layers and do not escape. If this were to happen on Earth,
no living thing will survive the heat.
* The thick clouds that surround Venus are composed of sulfuric acid therefore the rain is
also extremely toxic. These clouds also hinder sunlight from passing through, allowing only 20%
of it to enter. The toxicity of such cloud composition clearly indicates a hostile environment not
ideal for supporting life. It is said that oceans may exist in Venus, but because of extreme heat,
any traces of water would just evaporate instantly.
The critical condition of Venus resembles a possible worst case scenario that could happen to
Earth. Whether Venus was once conducive to living or not, one can only hope that future
discoveries will bring man closer to analyzing the planet Venus in fact and fiction.

---

The Beauty and Mystery of the Planet Venus
Venus has caught the attention of man since the ancient times. It is perhaps due to the mere
fact that it shines brighter than the brightest star. Venus is seen with the naked eye, and appears
in the east during sunrise and in the west during sunset. These two strange appearances during
different times of the day have also caught man's attention. People back in the day have
mistaken it to be two different objects. Hence, the Venus seen during sunrise was named "the
morning star" (Eosphorus), while the one seen during sunset was named "the evening star"
(Hesperus).
Many other myths about Venus have gone and
passed through time. The beauty that it possesses in
the horizon, combined with the mystery of its
movements even led ancestors to believe that it
brings some kind of omen (life and death, war and
peace, feast and famine). In other words, the beauty
and mystery of the planet Venus brought both
adoration and fear to the people of the olden days.


Venus is the second planet closest to the sun in
the solar system. It is also known for its proximity
to Earth. Research has also concluded that Venus'
size, mass, and composition are significantly
similar to that of the Earth. These characteristics have earned Venus the association of being the
Earth's "twin sister".
Venus is the only planet that revolves around the sun clockwise, which adds up to its
uniqueness among other planets. If one would be living in Venus, the sun would be noticed
rising from the west, and setting in the east. What's even more interesting is that its beauty from
a distance is contrary to what it's actually like up close. Recent discoveries about the planet show
the hostility of its environment (also contrary to being considered as the "twin sister" of Earth).
Bulky, opaque cloud formations obscure the entire surface of Venus. It was believed that
these clouds could be possible evidences that life on Venus exists. This would have been a good
speculation if it weren't for the fact that these clouds are made up of sulfuric acid, and that this
sulfuric acid shower toxic rain. Venus also has a very high wind velocity, measuring
approximately 350 km/hr.
The surface of the planet reaches a temperature of about 480 degrees Celsius, or
approximately 900 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is hot enough to melt lead. Volcanoes
also fill the planet, leaving pools of lava as big as Asia, to spread across its floors. The pressure

---

of the surface is 90 times greater than the Earth's. It is similar to the pressure beneath the depths
of the ocean.
Recent studies also show that Venus experiences what is called the runaway greenhouse
effect. This environmental anomaly is very similar to what people experience. However, the heat
from the sun that is trapped from the atmosphere almost never gets out. It just keeps on
accumulating over time. Could it be that Venus is a manifestation of what will happen if people
do not take care of planet Earth? And if this is so, could it be that the Earth is also the reflection
of Venus' past state? One can only hope not.
Although ancient beliefs differ largely from the discoveries made by modern science, people
from both time periods would agree to the same idea that Venus possesses so much mystery to
the point that it propels further studies to continue, even to this date. It is of certainty that the
beauty and mystery of planet Venus lie on its similarities and differences from Earth.
Discover the Influence of Venus
The mere fact that the
planet Venus was named after
the Roman goddess of love,
fertility, and beauty, gravely
reflects how it was portrayed
by man prior to the
revelations of scientific
discoveries. There are many
other myths involved behind
the prehistoric discovery of
the planet. And these are all
implications of the influence
of Venus to man.
Before planets were even
considered as such, they were
believed to be representations
of the will of the gods, as well as their relation to human affairs. This is what is now known as
ancient astrology. In modern astrology, planets are represented as psychological forces that drive
man to integrate certain aspects of his/her personality. It is also based on qualities derived from
signs of the Zodiac.
The association of the planet Venus with the goddess of love, fertility, and beauty, connotes
traits or aspects of a woman. In the psychological realm, Venus describes the human behavior on
love and relationships. It is also associated with harmony, balance, emotions, passion, pleasure,
and sensuality. Venus also rules a person's specific moral tendencies, values, as well as his/her

---

priorities. The kind of behavior depends on the person's zodiac sign, which is aligned according
to one's date of birth. The specific signs to which Venus rules over, is Taurus and Libra.
The house position of Venus in the birth chart indicates which circumstances will bring small
signs of good luck, where a person can get financial benefits, where money should be spent, as
well as which circumstances would drive a person to relate well with others. The following are
guides to discover the influence of Venus:
Venus in Friendships
Venus influences how a person mingles or bonds with other people. It interprets how he/she
interacts, and what kind of people he/she wants to be around with. It also describes a person's
preference or style on how he/she maintains the relationship.
Venus in Romantic Relationships
Depending on the person's position in the birth chart, Venus governs the specific preference
in choosing a mate. This includes physical, mental, and emotional characteristics that a person
finds ideal for romantic affairs. Venus also dictates what circumstances or situations will bring
certain emotions to a person.
Positive Venus Traits
If a person possesses positive Venus traits, this would reflect characteristics such as being
attractive, elegant, lovable, affectionate, cheerful, charismatic, creative, as well as being an
extrovert.
Negative Venus Traits
If a person has negative Venus traits, he/she is likely to be vain, conceited, superficial, lazy,
indecisive, possessive, sensually corrupt, lewd, unrefined, and envious.
Venus in the Realm of Arts
A person who is ruled by Venus is more likely to be inclined with the arts. He/she may be
interested in, or is good at painting, drawing, singing, dancing, writing, and the like.
There are many factors that affect human behavior and personality. It can either be the
environment exposed to, family background, and other experiences. Whichever it is that a person
believes in, the mysteries of things that are beyond man's capacity to fathom can be seen as a
representation of something divine. Signs and symbols all reflect the fact that humans are
governed by a higher force, whatever it may be. Signs and symbols help people associate the
transcendent, into something more imminent. In this case, the psychological symbolisms help
man to discover the influence of Venus.

---