Venus is primarily made of a central iron core and a rocky mantle, similar to Earth in composition and structure. Its core is estimated to have a radius of about 2,900 to 3,500 km and likely consists mostly of iron (about 80%) with some nickel and sulfur, though it is uncertain whether the core is fully liquid or partially solid
. The rocky mantle surrounds the core, and above that is a crust estimated to be about 10 to 40 kilometers thick, composed mainly of silicate rocks similar to granite and basalt found on Earth
. Venus's atmosphere is extremely dense and is composed mainly of carbon dioxide (about 96.5%) and nitrogen (about 3.5%), with trace amounts of other gases such as sulfur dioxide, argon, water vapor, carbon monoxide, helium, and neon
. The planet is also covered by thick clouds primarily made of sulfuric acid droplets, along with water, chlorine, and iron compounds, which contribute to its highly reflective and harsh atmospheric conditions
. In summary, Venus consists of:
- A central iron-nickel core (partially liquid or solid uncertain)
- A silicate rocky mantle
- A silicate crust similar to Earth's
- A dense atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide and nitrogen
- Thick clouds of sulfuric acid droplets and trace minerals in the atmosphere
