ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Venus in culture

Venus is a planet in space, and people on Earth have been interested in it for a long time because it's one of the brightest things in the night sky. People have come up with lots of stories and legends about Venus because of this interest.

In ancient times, people thought Venus was a goddess that controlled love and beauty. They even named the planet after her! People built big temples and statues in honor of Venus, and they wrote lots of poems and stories about her.

Later on, as people started exploring space more, they wanted to learn more about Venus. They sent spaceships and rovers there to take pictures and gather information. Scientists found out that Venus is actually a very harsh place -- it's really hot and has thick clouds of acid in the air! But even though Venus isn't a goddess, people still find it fascinating and interesting to study.