Venus vs Jupiter [How Do The Planets Differ?]

There are many fantastic planets that Earth shares our great solar system with. Well, I say many, but actually, there are 7 other planets. Two of those are Venus and Jupiter, who we’ll be talking about today. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun, located between Mars and Saturn. Venus is the second planet from the sun, with Mercury, its neighbor, one said, and Earth, yes, that’s us, it’s neighbor on the other side. So, Venus and Jupiter are part of the same solar system but is that all they have in common? Or are there more similarities to be found between these two planets? What about their differences? And the causes behind these differences? Today, we’ll be investigating these comparisons between Venus and Jupiter. So buckle up, because whilst we may not be traveling to either of them, we’re now going to embark on a journey of facts.

So, what are the main differences between Venus vs. Jupiter? The main differences between Venus and Jupiter are in relation to their size, orbit durations, chemical compositions, and temperatures. Jupiter is much bigger than Venus, but then again, it’s much bigger than every planet in our solar system. Venus completes one orbit of the sun is much less than it takes for Jupiter to complete the same orbit. Venus belongs to the terrestrial planet family, whereas Jupiter belongs to the gas giant family. 

Many other differences between the two planets also exist, as we will soon learn…

What Are The Differences Between Venus and Jupiter?

Venus and Jupiter differ when you analyze their size, orbit, chemical composition, temperatures, number of moons, number of rings, axel tilt, rotation time, and aesthetics.

Yes, the truth is that there are quite a few differences between these two brilliant planets of The Milky Way. 

One by one, let’s find out more information about each of these differences.

Size and Mass

Every planet in our solar system has its own unique size measurements. 

So it’s no surprise that Venus and Jupiter are different in this regard.

Not only are they different when it comes to size, but they are actually vastly different.

It’s no wonder this is the case, seeing as Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system while Venus is the sixth biggest, with only Mars and Mercury measuring up smaller.

Let’s talk figures, then.

Jupiter has a diameter of 139,820km compared to Venus’ 12,104km. 

Jupiter has a whopping big surface area of 61.42 billion square kilometers compared to Venus’ 460.2 million square kilometers.

Finally, Jupiter has a mass of approximately 1,898,000,000,000 trillion metric tons, compared to Venus’ much lighter figure of approximately 4870 million million million tonnes.

Orbit of the Sun

As was mentioned in the introduction, Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun, and Venus is the second.

So there’s another difference there already. Venus and Jupiter vary in terms of how far away they are from the sun. And the difference in distance is significant.

But this difference also leads to another separate difference.

You see, a planet’s distance from the sun plays as a fundamental factor when determining how long it takes for that planet to complete one orbit around the sun. 

Venus is much closer to the sun than Jupiter is. It consequently takes much less time for it to orbit the sun than Jupiter.

Once again, let’s talk figures. 

Venus takes 225 days to orbit the sun. Only Mercury is quicker.

Jupiter takes a whopping 10 years to orbit the sun.

See what I mean? The difference is vast!

Chemical Composition

Our solar system is home to 8 planets.

These 8 planets can be split into two categories. These categories are the two types of planets found in our solar system.

One type of planet found in our solar system is the gas giant.

The other type is the terrestrial planet.

Venus and Jupiter differ here once again. Jupiter is identified as a gas giant, whereas Venus is a terrestrial planet.

But how are these two different planet types defined?

Well, gas giants are, funnily enough, mainly composed of gasses. The two primary gases found in gas giants are hydrogen and helium. 

Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn are the other gas giants that join Jupiter in this category.

Terrestrial planets are composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals. 

Earth, Mercury, and Mars are the other terrestrial planets that join Venus in this category.

Temperature 

Venus is much warmer on its surface and in its atmosphere when compared to Jupiter.

However, Jupiter has a much warmer core temperature.

To provide you with more clarity, let’s once again turn to the figures.

Venus’s surface and atmospheric temperatures are approximately 887 degrees Fahrenheit (475 degrees Celsius). Quite hot, right? Well, the opposite is true for Jupiter.

Here, on the surface and in the atmosphere of Jupiter, the temperatures are a freezing -166 degrees Fahrenheit (-110 degrees Celsius).

Venus is warmer on its surface for a few reasons, one of them being that it’s much closer to the sun than Jupiter. 

Now, what about core temperature?

Jupiter has a core temperature of a whopping 35,999 degrees Fahrenheit (19,982 degrees Celsius) compared to Venus’ core which is only measured at 9,392 degrees Fahrenheit (5,200 degrees Celsius).

Yeah, only..

Gas giants tend to be warmer at their cores than terrestrial planets. 

Number of Moons

It’s very simple. 

Jupiter has moons, 79, to be precise.

Venus, however, doesn’t have any moons at all.

Rings

Once again, Jupiter possesses what Venus does not.

Jupiter has rings around it, four to be specific.

Jupiter’s rings mainly consist of asteroids, comets, and even shattered moons. 

Venus once again has zero in this department.

Axel Tilt and Rotation

If you didn’t know, some planets tilt at varying degrees when compared with one another.

Now, Venus and Jupiter’s axial tilts are actually pretty much the same.

Venus’ axial tilt is 3 degrees, and Jupiter’s is 3.13 degrees.

See what I mean?

Well, what actually sets them apart in this department is their rotation time, i.e., how long it takes for the planets to rotate once on their axial.

You’d think that as their axial tilts are very similar, their rotation times would be as well. Guess again.

Venus takes a huge 243 hours to complete one rotation on its axial. 

But Jupiter takes just 10 hours to rotate once on its axis.

Aesthetic 

Venus appears as a yellowy-white color and is, in fact, the brightest planet in our solar system.

Jupiter is very different in terms of aesthetics as it has horizontal stripes, which are a mix of dark and light brown.

What Are The Similarities Between Venus and Mercury?

Venus and Jupiter are similar when you analyze their orbit pattern and shape, the fact that they both have hotter central cores and a gravitational pull cannot support human life, and humans are yet to visit either of them.

Turns out Jupiter and Venus do have a fair amount in common. 

Just like before, let’s find out more information about each of these similarities.

Orbit Pattern

Earlier, we learned that Venus takes much less time to orbit the sun than Jupiter does.

But there is a similarity shared here when it comes to orbit. 

Because Venus and Jupiter share the same orbit pattern.

Like the rest of the planets in our solar system, Venus and Jupiter both have circular orbits of the sun.

Both are Spherical

Jupiter and Venus are both spherical in shape.

Then again, so is every planet in our solar system.

Both Have a Hotter Central Core

Both Venus and Jupiter are hotter at their cores than they are on their surfaces.

This is, however, typically the case for any planet in our solar system. 

Gravitational Pull

Certain objects in the universe have a gravitational relationship with one another.

This gravitational relationship is caused by a gravitational pull force possessed by these certain objects. 

Venus and Jupiter both possess a gravitational pull force.

Jupiter’s gravitational pull keeps its moons and rings in close orbit of their atmosphere. 

Can’t Support Human Life

No planet other than Earth can host and support human life. 

So this is another trait that Venus and Jupiter have in common.

Why can’t they do this? Well, they don’t have any oxygen, and they also possess temperatures that are too hot or cold for the human body to survive.

With the right equipment, we might be able to visit these planets one day…but that day is a long way away.

Humans Haven’t Visited

Even if we could overcome the lack of oxygen and the hostile temperatures found on both Venus and Jupiter, we can’t even travel to either of these planets yet.

They’re just too far away right now.

One day I am sure humanity will invent the means to overcome these vast distances and further explore the likes of Venus and Jupiter.

Finally

Venus and Jupiter are clearly very different planets.

But that’s what makes the universe so wonderful.

Everywhere you look, there’s uniqueness to be found.

Whilst the differences between these two planets are fascinating to study, one similarity shared by Venus and Jupiter is all that matters…

…and that’s that they are both awesome!!

Other planetary comparisons you may want to read:

• Venus Vs Mercury [How Do The Planets Differ?]
• Venus vs Neptune [How Do The Planets Differ?]
• Mars vs Venus [How Do The Planets Differ?]