Is Venus hotter than Mercury? Yes, it is. We have learned about the positioning of planets in the solar system. Mercury is the closest to the Sun, while Neptune is the farthest (Pluto having lost the prestigious title of planet). The Sun is at the center of all actions.
The Sun is the source of all heat and light. If the distance from the Sun is the only factor that determines the hottest planet, the title has to be awarded to Mercury as it is the closest one. But it turns out that Venus is the hottest planet, though it is placed second only after Mercury.
What makes Venus hotter?
The reason that makes Venus hotter than Mercury lies in its atmosphere. Venus has a thick atmosphere comprising mostly of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases responsible for the greenhouse effect. This means that it has the capacity to trap the heat radiated from the planet’s surface inside its atmosphere.
Planets absorb the Sun’s heat during the day, and releases it back to space in the night. This is the case with our Earth too. In case of Venus, all the heat absorbed from the Sun is trapped inside its atmosphere due to the gases present. So it always remains hot.
Mercury, on the other hand, has a very thin layer of atmosphere. Though it receives more heat than any other planet, it cannot retain the heat as it has no atmosphere to trap the heat within. So although it is closest to the Sun, it cannot remain the hottest planet. This explains why our ‘Morning Star’ lost the race for the hottest planet.
Did you find this piece of information interesting? If you wish to read more of such interesting facts, please visit our Fascinating Facts section.
Here’s Something You Might Like
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, Science4Kids may earn from qualifying purchases.
