The Economic Times

Venus has a deadly heat blanket that Mercury never had. Why the planet farther from the Sun became the hottest world in our solar system

Mercury is closer to the Sun, but Venus is the solar system's hottest planet. Venus possesses an extremely dense carbon dioxide atmosphere which acts as a heat blanket. This atmosphere traps absorbed solar energy, preventing efficient heat escape into space. Mercury, lacking a substantial atmosphere, experiences extreme temperature swings between day and night. The comparison highlights how planetary atmospheres significantly influence climate conditions.