Hello, I'm Dr. Vivian Holloway, a planetary scientist specializing in the study of Venus. My research focuses on understanding the extreme surface conditions of Venus, particularly its incredibly high temperatures.

Let's delve into your question about the heat on Venus.

Venus holds the title of the hottest planet in our solar system, even though it's not the closest to the Sun. While Mercury might seem like the obvious candidate due to its proximity to the Sun, Venus's dense atmosphere traps heat in a runaway greenhouse effect, leading to scorching temperatures.

The average surface temperature on Venus is around 867 degrees Fahrenheit (464 degrees Celsius). To put that into perspective, that's hot enough to melt lead! These temperatures are relatively consistent across the planet, with only minor variations between day and night or between the equator and the poles.

The primary driver of this intense heat is the Venusian atmosphere, which is about **90 times denser than Earth's atmosphere** and composed mainly of carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent greenhouse gas. Let me explain how this works:


1. Solar Radiation: Venus receives solar radiation from the Sun, just like Earth.

2. Absorption and Reflection: Some of this radiation is reflected back into space by Venus's cloud cover. However, a significant portion penetrates the atmosphere and reaches the planet's surface.

3. Infrared Radiation: The surface absorbs this solar energy and re-emits it as infrared radiation (heat).

4. Greenhouse Effect: The thick CO2 atmosphere acts like a blanket, trapping the outgoing infrared radiation. This trapped heat causes the temperature of the atmosphere and the surface to rise dramatically.

This runaway greenhouse effect on Venus serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance of our own planet's atmosphere and the potential consequences of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions.

In summary, while Mercury may be closer to the Sun, Venus's incredibly dense CO2 atmosphere and the resulting runaway greenhouse effect make it the hottest planet in our solar system.

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Much of the hydrogen in the atmosphere evaporated early in the formation of Venus, leaving a thick atmosphere across the planet. At the surface, the atmosphere presses down as hard as water 3,000 feet beneath Earth's ocean. The average temperature on Venus is 864 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius).read more >>