Venus

Same size as Earth – are they similar?

Near to the Sun, surface temperatures above 800F

Heavy cratering, but not as heavy as on the Moon or Mercury

Active volcanoes, lava flows, but no plate tectonics

Rich, thick, poisonous atmosphere (greenhouse effect)

No water

Do we see the surface of the planet when we observe Venus?

How long can a spacecraft survive on the surface of Venus?

Venus rotates clockwise while most of the planets rotate counterclockwise - what does this imply?

Venus in a crescent phase, with horizontal atmospheric streaks. Three round impact craters on the surface.
Impact Craters		 Heavily marked and irregular surface showing both high and low regions with sharp edges.
Ridges and Troughs
Venus in a gibbous phase, with horizontal atmospheric streaks. Smooth flowing features not unlike stream beds, superimposed on an irregular surface.
Lava flows		 Flat planar region of lava flows, with light and dark regions.
Eastern Lakshmi
Images of planet Venus, similar in size to the Earth but with a very different history. [NASA]