What percentage of sunlight is reflected back into space by the clouds composed mostly of sulfuric acid surrounding Venus?
Answer
About 75%
The extreme luminosity of Venus is a direct result of the composition and physical properties of its thick, global cloud layer. These clouds are predominantly made of sulfuric acid, which acts as an exceptional reflector of incoming solar radiation. Specifically, the text indicates that these clouds are responsible for bouncing back about 75% of the sunlight that strikes them. This extremely high albedo (reflectivity) is the primary reason Venus outshines every true star visible from Earth.
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