146k views
5 votes
Why is a sidereal day longer than a solar day on Venus?

User Zur
by
3.2k points

1 Answer

12 votes

Answer:

The backwards rotation makes Venus the only planet in the solar system where the sidereal day is actually longer than the solar one. The sun returns to it highest point in the sky before the planet has completed one rotation. Combining all this together leaves Venus with a solar day that takes 117 Earth-days.

Step-by-step explanation:

I have some great teachers. hope this helps!

User Spencer May
by
3.7k points