On Venus, a day is longer than a year—an astonishing fact that flips our understanding of time. Venus takes about 243 Earth days to complete one full rotation on its axis, defining the length of its day. In contrast, it takes only about 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun, defining the length of its year. Thus, a single day on Venus outlasts its year.

What causes this unusual scenario? Venus rotates very slowly and in the opposite direction of most planets, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation. Most planets, including Earth, spin counter-clockwise on their axes, but Venus rotates clockwise. This retrograde motion is likely the result of a massive collision with another celestial body early in its history, which altered its spin direction and dramatically slowed its rotation.

If you could stand on Venus (ignoring its extreme conditions), you would see the Sun rise in the west and set in the east, taking months to complete its journey across the sky. The slow rotation means prolonged exposure to the Sun on one side, contributing to Venus's scorching surface temperatures, which average around 900 degrees Fahrenheit (475 degrees Celsius).
This fascinating feature of Venus challenges our conventional understanding of planetary motion and highlights the incredible diversity of our solar system. Venus's slow, retrograde spin, combined with its quick orbit, creates a world where the length of a day exceeds that of a year, captivating scientists and enthusiasts alike.