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Illustration of cloud-covered Venus partially illuminated by the Sun against dark space.
Science & Space

Does Venus take longer to rotate once than to orbit the Sun?

Published

Verdict
True
Verification confidenceHigh

Explanation

Yes. Venus completes one rotation relative to distant stars in about 243 Earth days, while one orbit around the Sun takes about 225 Earth days. Its rotation therefore lasts longer than its year.

NASA's Venus Fact Sheet lists these rotation and orbital periods separately. The European Space Agency independently explains the same comparison and notes that Venus rotates in the opposite direction to Earth.

The distinction is what counts as a day. One full rotation is a sidereal day. A solar day, measured from one noon to the next, also depends on orbital motion and lasts about 117 Earth days on Venus—shorter than its year.

Key takeaway

Venus finishes an orbit before completing one rotation. Its noon-to-noon day is a different, shorter interval.

Evidence

The rotation period exceeds the orbital period

NASA

Supports the claim

NASA lists a sidereal rotation period with a magnitude of 5,832.6 hours, approximately 243 Earth days, and an orbital period of 224.701 Earth days.

Based on: NASA

ESA confirms the comparison and distinguishes solar days

European Space Agency

Supports the claim

ESA describes a 243-Earth-day rotation and a roughly 225-Earth-day year, while distinguishing the approximately 117-Earth-day interval between successive noons.

Based on: European Space Agency

Sources

NASA

Venus Fact Sheet

European Space Agency

Venus and Earth: worlds apart

May 31, 2012

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