Venus, otherwise known as the "Evening Star" and the "Morning Star," is the second planet from the sun, the closest planet to Earth in size, and the planet that approaches closer to Earth than any other planet. 

Venus is the Roman name of the goddess of love and beauty. Venus is identified with Astarte, or Ishtar, chief goddess of Babylon. Venus was also known to the ancient civilizations of the Americas; the Aztecs called it Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, or Quetzalcoatl, and the Mayans Kukulcan. In addition, all the geographical features of Venus are named for goddesses from one body of mythology or another. 
