Does It Rain on Other Planets?

Unlike Earth, where water falls as rain, other planets in our solar system experience vastly different precipitation. On Venus, the atmosphere is thick with carbon dioxide, and the clouds are composed of sulfuric acid. This means that instead of water, Venus experiences sulfuric acid rain. However, this acid rain does not reach the surface because the planet’s extreme heat causes it to evaporate before it can hit the ground. So, while it technically rains on Venus, the rain never actually touches the surface of the planet.

Mars, on the other hand, has a very thin atmosphere, mostly made up of carbon dioxide, with traces of water vapor. While it does not rain water on Mars, the planet does experience weather phenomena like dust storms and clouds. There is also evidence that liquid water once flowed on Mars, suggesting that rain in the form of water might have been possible in the planet’s distant past. However, in its current state, Mars does not have the conditions necessary for rain to fall as it does on Earth.