Venus breaks every rule in the planetary playbook. While most planets spin in the same direction they orbit the Sun, Venus rotates backward (called "retrograde" rotation)—and at an almost impossibly slow pace. One complete rotation on its axis takes 243 Earth days, while one full orbit around the Sun takes only 225 days. Let that sink in: a single Venusian day is longer than a Venusian year.

This means if you lived on Venus, your birthday would come around faster than a single sunrise-to-sunrise cycle would pass. You'd technically age a year before experiencing one full day. Scientists at the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy believe a massive collision with another celestial body early in Venus's history may have flipped or dramatically slowed its rotation—though the dense atmosphere and tidal forces from the Sun may have also played a role over billions of years.

The result is a world of extremes: the Sun rises in the west, sets in the east, and "tomorrow" is a very, very long time away. Venusian nights and days each last about 58 Earth days. If you're planning a trip, pack for the long haul—and don't expect a quick sunset.