The odd question
How can a day on Venus be longer than its year?
Venus spins so slowly that one rotation takes longer than one trip around the Sun.
Here's the surprise
Venus takes about 243 Earth days to rotate once, but about 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun.
What's really going on?
A sidereal day measures one rotation relative to distant stars. On Venus that takes roughly 243 Earth days.
A Venusian year is shorter: about 225 Earth days. Venus also rotates in the opposite direction from most planets.
A solar day, measured noon to noon, is different from the rotation period: on Venus it lasts about 117 Earth days.
Think about it
Does “day” always mean the time from one noon to the next?
Reveal the explanation
No. A sidereal day measures rotation relative to stars; a solar day measures the Sun’s return to the same position.