Venus has the longest day of any planet in the solar system when you measure a full rotation on its axis. Its rotation is so slow that one day lasts longer than one Venus year.
Planet Day Length Comparison
The Short Answer
Venus has the longest day of any planet in the solar system when you measure a full rotation on its axis. Its rotation is so slow that one day lasts longer than one Venus year.
How Long Is a Day on Venus?
Venus rotates very slowly and in the opposite direction from most planets. Its day length is 243 Earth days, which is much longer than the 225 Earth days it takes to orbit the Sun.
Why Venus Rotates So Slowly
The exact reason Venus rotates so slowly is still debated. Early impacts, tidal effects, and atmospheric interactions may all have played a role in shaping its unusual spin.
How Other Planets Compare
The comparison table shows how quickly the other planets spin. Jupiter is the fastest-rotating planet, while Venus sits at the opposite extreme.
Longest Day vs Shortest Day
Venus has the longest day, and Jupiter has the shortest day. Seeing them side by side makes the range of planetary time in the solar system easy to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which planet has the shortest day?
Jupiter has the shortest day in the solar system.
How long is a day on Venus?
A full rotation on Venus lasts 243 Earth days.
Why are planetary days different?
Each planet formed with a different rotation rate, and later gravitational interactions changed some of those spins.
Is a day always shorter than a year?
No. Venus is the best-known example where one day is longer than one year.