Venus' Synodic Year: Why Does It Take Longer Than Earth's?

In summary, Venus takes about 225 Earth days to complete one orbit around the sun, but its rotation on its axis is very slow, taking 243 Earth days. This may lead to confusion about the time it takes for Venus to complete a full cycle as seen from Earth, which is approximately 1.6 years due to its slower rotation and the extra distance it must travel to catch up to Earth's position.
  • #1
sivaswetha
6
0
Why do venus take more number of days for one complete rotation around sun than Earth when the gravitational pull towards venus is higher than Earth ?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
It doesn't. Google is your friend.
 
  • #3
It doesn't. Venus takes approximately 225 Earth days to complete one orbit.
 
  • #4
Maybe you're thinking about the rotation of Venus as opposed to the orbit of Venus? Venus spins on its axis very slowly, so it only makes a full axial rotation ever 243 Earth-days, but in this time period it has already made a full orbiting loop around the Sun and is about 8% of the way into the next loop.
 
  • #5
Probably a definition issue:
Rotation: spinning about its axis
Revolution: moving around the sun
 
  • #6
Perhaps you're thinking of a synodic year. Venus takes about 1.6 years to complete a cycle as seen from Earth. After it completes one orbit, it still has to travel an extra distance to catch up to Earth, which has also moved. So from one apparition as an evening star to the next it takes 1.6 years.
 

1. How long does it take for Venus to complete one orbit around the sun?

Venus takes approximately 225 Earth days, or 0.62 Earth years, to complete one orbit around the sun.

2. Does Venus rotate on its axis?

Yes, Venus does rotate on its axis. However, it rotates in the opposite direction compared to most other planets in our solar system, with one day on Venus lasting 243 Earth days.

3. What causes Venus' slow rotation?

The exact reason for Venus' slow rotation is not fully understood, but it is believed to be due to a combination of its thick atmosphere and its proximity to the sun. The sun's gravitational pull may have caused Venus' rotation to slow down over time.

4. How does Venus' rotation affect its surface?

Venus' slow rotation results in a very hot and inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching up to 864 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius). It also experiences extreme weather patterns, such as intense winds and sulfuric acid rain.

5. Is there any evidence of changes in Venus' rotation over time?

Yes, there is evidence that Venus' rotation has changed over time. In the past, it may have rotated at a faster rate, but due to factors such as its thick atmosphere and gravitational interactions with the sun and other planets, its rotation has slowed down. Scientists continue to study Venus' rotation and its potential changes over time.

Similar threads

A Venus' non-relativistic contribution to Mercury's precession
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
635
I Solar anomaly and the Antikythera Mechanism
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
6
Views
1K
Why did Venus lose its oceans?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
8
Views
4K
I Atmospheric escape parametre statistics
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
234
B Why Jupiter, Saturn and the Sun have a distinctive and sharp boundary?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
34
Views
6K
B Albedo, atmosphere, and predicted temperature of Venus
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
7
Views
3K
B Terraforming Venus: Why Nobody Discusses It?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
3
Replies
71
Views
10K
B How do fields retain their uniformity with interposing objects?
    • Classical Physics
Replies
4
Views
577
I How Big of an Object Orbiting Closer to the Sun Than Earth Could Be Overlooked?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
17
Views
2K
A Is Detecting Distant Asteroids/NEOs from the ISS Possible?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
8
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top