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Our Solar System: In Order From the Sun

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Venus

The second planet from the Sun is Venus--a planet similar in size and mass to Earth, which is why Venus is sometimes referred to as Earth's sister planet. The climates of Venus and Earth are completely different, however. Venus is a very hot place, due to its close proximity to the Sun and its very thick layers of clouds. When heat from the Sun reaches Venus, its massive cloud cover traps and keeps much of that heat within the planet. This trapping of the Sun's energy is called the greenhouse effect. Sound familiar?

Fun Fact: After the Sun and the Moon, Venus is the brightest object in Earth's sky.

Photo source: NASA

Next: Earth

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Provided by Infoplease—an authoritative, comprehensive reference website that offers an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas, and several almanacs. Visit Infoplease.com to find more resources endorsed by teachers and librarians.

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