THE SECOND PLANET OF THE UNIVERSE "VENUS"

THE SECOND PLANET OF THE UNIVERSE IS VENUS THE SECOND IN DISTANCE FROM THE SUN. IT IS THE BRIGHTEST OBJECT IN OUR SKY AFTER THE SUN AND THE MOON. VENUS ORBITS THE SUN AT AN AVERAGE DISTANCE OF ABOUT 108 MILLION km (67MILLON MI). EXCEPT FOR THE SUN AND THE MOON, VENUS IS THE BRIGHTEST OBJECT IN THE SKY. THE PLANET WAS NAMED FOR THE ROMAN GODDESS OF BEAUTY. IT IS OFTEN CALLED THE MORNING STAR WHEN IT APPEARS IN THE EAST OF SUNRISE AND THE EVENING STAR WHEN ITS IN THE WEST AT SUNSET. IN ANCIENT TIME THE EVENING STAR WAS CALLED HESPERUS AND THE MORNING STAR PHOSPHORUS OR LUCIFER. BECAUSE THE PLANET ORBIT CLOSER TO THE SUN THAN EARTH DOES,VENUS SEEMS TO EITHER PRECEDE OR TRAIL THE SUN IN THE SKY. AT THE EQUATOR, VENUS IS NEVER VISIBLE MORE THAN THREE HOURS BEFORE SUNRISE OR THREE HOURS BEFORE SUNSET