A Day on Venus Is Longer Than Its Year
Venus rotates so slowly that one day (243 Earth days) is longer than one year (225 Earth days). It also rotates backward compared to most planets.
About this fact
Venus has one of the most unusual rotation patterns in our solar system. It takes 243 Earth days for Venus to complete one rotation on its axis (one day), but only 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun (one year). This means a day on Venus is actually longer than its year! Additionally, Venus rotates backward (retrograde) compared to most planets in our solar system. While Earth rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above the North Pole, Venus rotates clockwise. This means the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east on Venus. Scientists believe this unusual rotation might be due to a massive collision early in Venus's history, or the result of gravitational interactions with other planets. The slow rotation also contributes to Venus's extreme temperatures, as each side of the planet experiences very long periods of sunlight and darkness.