Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun yet Venus is hotter; thanks to a runaway greenhouse effect

Global Climate Sat, 18 Jul 2026 11:30:23 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

Image: AI GeneratedIt seems like a contradiction.
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so it would be natural to assume it is also the hottest.
In reality, that title belongs to Venus, where surface temperatures are hot enough to melt lead.

Unverified

Image: AI GeneratedIt seems like a contradiction.
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so it would be natural to assume it is also the hottest.
In reality, that title belongs to Venus, where surface temperatures are hot enough to melt lead.

Sources: Times of India