Why Is a Day on Venus Longer than Its Year?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is a day on Venus longer than its year?

The Big Idea

A day on Venus is longer than its year because Venus spins incredibly slowly! Venus takes about 243 Earth days to turn around once. But it circles the Sun in only about 225 Earth days. So its day is longer than its year.

A Slow Spinner

Step one: Venus spins very slowly. It takes about 243 Earth days for Venus to turn around once. That is how long one day lasts there. A day on Venus is more than eight months of ours.

A Quicker Orbit

Step two: Venus circles the Sun faster than it spins. One lap around the Sun takes about 225 Earth days. That is one Venus year. So it finishes its year before it finishes one spin.

Spinning Backward

Step three: Venus even spins backward. Most planets spin counter-clockwise when seen from above, but Venus turns the other way. On Venus, the Sun rises in the west. That is a very strange sunrise.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at two clocks! The spin clock is very slow. The orbit clock is a bit faster. So its year is shorter than its day. And the Sun rises in the west.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A Venus day lasts about 243 Earth days. A Venus year lasts about 225 Earth days. Venus spins backward. Venus is the hottest planet.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Write Venus's day and year side by side. Day: 243 Earth days. Year: 225 Earth days. Which one is longer? Tell a grown-up how you know.

Outro

On Venus, a day lasts longer than a year. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!