Space Station Glossary V

V

Variable Star:

A stars whose glow (brightness) changes with time.

Velocity:

The speed of a thing or an object moving in a specific direction. A car traveling at 35 miles per hour is a dimension of speed. Observing that a car is itinerant 35 miles per hour due north is a measurement of velocity.

Venus:

An inner, terrestrial (rocky) planet, which is slightly smaller than Earth. Located between the orbits of Mercury and the Earth, Venus has an extremely thick atmosphere that is enclosed by a layer of clouds that produce a “greenhouse effect” on the planet. Venus’s surface hotness is roughly 480° C (900° F), creation it the hottest planet in the solar system.