Earth vs. Venus: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on January 16, 2024
Earth is the third planet from the Sun with a diverse climate and abundant life, while Venus, the second planet, is known for its extreme temperatures and dense, toxic atmosphere.
Key Differences
Earth, our home planet, supports a vast range of life forms due to its moderate temperatures and presence of water, whereas Venus, often called Earth's 'twin', is inhospitable with a thick atmosphere mainly composed of carbon dioxide.
Earth's atmosphere, rich in nitrogen and oxygen, is essential for life, contrasting with Venus's dense atmosphere that creates a severe greenhouse effect, leading to surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead.
Earth has a protective magnetic field that shields it from harmful solar radiation, while Venus lacks a significant magnetic field, leaving it exposed to solar winds and radiation.
The Earth's surface is dynamic, featuring oceans, continents, and a variety of ecosystems, unlike Venus, whose surface is dry, rocky, and marked by numerous volcanoes and a lack of water.
Earth's rotation leads to a 24-hour day/night cycle, while Venus has an extremely slow rotation, making a day on Venus longer than its year.
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Comparison Chart
Position in Solar System
Third planet from the Sun
Second planet from the Sun
Atmosphere Composition
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gases
96% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen
Surface Temperature
Ranges from -88°C to 58°C (-126°F to 136°F)
Average around 465°C (869°F)
Presence of Water
Abundant water, oceans cover 71% of surface
No liquid water, extremely dry
Day Length
About 24 hours
About 243 Earth days
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Earth and Venus Definitions
Earth
Earth is the only known planet to support life.
Scientists search for Earth-like planets in hopes of finding life.
Venus
Venus is known for its extreme surface temperatures and pressure.
The surface of Venus can melt lead.
Earth
Earth is known as the 'Blue Planet' due to its abundant water.
Earth's surface is mostly covered by oceans.
Venus
Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets.
A day on Venus is longer than its year.
Earth
Earth's atmosphere is protective and life-sustaining.
Earth's atmosphere filters harmful solar radiation.
Venus
Venus is sometimes called Earth's 'twin' due to its similar size.
Despite being Earth's twin, Venus is vastly different in terms of environment.
Earth
Earth has a diverse range of ecosystems and climates.
From tropical rainforests to polar ice caps, Earth's climates vary greatly.
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun in our solar system.
Venus is often visible from Earth as a bright object in the sky.
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our solar system.
The Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 days.
Venus
Venus has a dense atmosphere composed mostly of carbon dioxide.
Venus's thick atmosphere creates a strong greenhouse effect.
Earth
The land surface of the world.
Venus
Roman Mythology The goddess of love and beauty.
Earth
The softer, friable part of land; soil, especially productive soil.
Venus
The second planet from the sun, having an average radius of 6,052 kilometers (3,761 miles), a mass 0.82 times that of Earth, and a sidereal period of revolution about the sun of 224.7 days at a mean distance of approximately 108.2 million kilometers (67.2 million miles).
Venus
Any of the bivalve molluscs in the genus Venus or family Veneridae.
Venus
The goddess of beauty and love, that is, beauty or love deified.
Venus
One of the planets, the second in order from the sun, its orbit lying between that of Mercury and that of the Earth, at a mean distance from the sun of about 67,000,000 miles. Its diameter is 7,700 miles, and its sidereal period 224.7 days. As the morning star, it was called by the ancients Lucifer; as the evening star, Hesperus.
Venus
The metal copper; - probably so designated from the ancient use of the metal in making mirrors, a mirror being still the astronomical symbol of the planet Venus.
Venus
Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Venus or family Veneridæ. Many of these shells are large, and ornamented with beautiful frills; others are smooth, glossy, and handsomely colored. Some of the larger species, as the round clam, or quahog, are valued for food.
Venus
The second nearest planet to the sun; visible as an early `morning star' or an `evening star'; rotates slowly clockwise (in the opposite direction from the normal rotation of the planets);
Before it was known that they were the same object the evening star was called Venus and the morning star was called Lucifer
Venus
Goddess of love; counterpart of Greek Aphrodite
Venus
Type genus of the family Veneridae: genus of edible clams with thick oval shells
FAQs
How far is Earth from the Sun?
Earth is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from the Sun.
What is the average temperature on Earth?
The average global temperature on Earth is around 15°C (59°F).
How long does it take for Earth to orbit the Sun?
It takes Earth about 365.25 days to orbit the Sun.
What makes Earth unique in the solar system?
Earth is unique for its life-supporting environment, water presence, and diverse ecosystems.
How far is Venus from the Sun?
Venus is about 67 million miles (108 million kilometers) from the Sun.
Does Venus have any moons?
No, Venus does not have any natural satellites or moons.
What is the surface temperature of Venus?
The surface temperature averages around 465°C (869°F).
How does Earth's magnetic field protect it?
The magnetic field shields Earth from harmful solar and cosmic radiation.
Can humans live on Venus?
Venus's extreme conditions make it currently uninhabitable for humans.
Does Earth have any natural satellites?
Yes, Earth has one natural satellite, the Moon.
What is the atmosphere of Earth made of?
Earth's atmosphere consists mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace gases.
Is there water on Venus?
Venus does not have liquid water; its surface is extremely dry.
What is Venus known for?
Venus is known for its extreme temperatures, thick atmosphere, and surface pressure.
What are the similarities between Earth and Venus?
Both are rocky planets and similar in size and mass.
Are there any missions planned to Venus?
Various space agencies have proposed missions to study Venus further.
How is Venus's rotation unique?
Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets and very slowly.
Why is Venus so hot?
Venus is hot due to its thick atmosphere and the greenhouse effect.
What causes seasons on Earth?
Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun cause seasonal changes.
Can we see Venus from Earth?
Yes, Venus is often visible from Earth, known as the 'morning star' or 'evening star.'
What is the biggest difference between Earth's and Venus's atmosphere?
Earth's atmosphere is life-sustaining, while Venus's is dense and toxic.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
