... we inhabit. Venus has a thick layer of constant cloud cover that reflects 85% of all the sunlight reaching the planet. This not only makes Venus the brightest object in the night sky (after the sun and moon), but also makes observational study very difficult, as we are unable to observe the surface from space. This has required many space missions with orbiters and probes to gather information ... studying Venus. Another interesting characteristic of Venus that has long puzzled scientists is the planet's unusual rotation. Like Uranus and Pluto, Venus rotates on its axis in the direction...

• Word Count: 2107
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate