What does Venus look like?

Venus, the second planet from the sun, is slightly smaller than the Earth and is covered by thick clouds of sulphuric acid that make it difficult to observe its surface. Venus appears as a bright object in the morning sky.

The surface of Venus has been mapped using radar technology. Underneath the thick layers of clouds, this planet has a relatively smooth surface, but geological features, such as volcanoes, craters, mountains and canyons have been discovered. Venus does not have any water and is the hottest planet in the solar system. Most of its surface is made out of volcanic rock, and prominent flows of lava have been observed.