You might think that the planet closest to the Sun would be the hottest, right? But that’s not the case. The hottest planet in our solar system is actually Venus, which is second from the Sun. Why, you ask? Well, it’s all because of its super thick atmosphere and something called the greenhouse effect.

Acid clouds

Venus’s atmosphere is packed full of carbon dioxide, a gas that we usually think of as what we breathe out. On top of that, Venus has clouds made of something much more dangerous – sulfuric acid. This might sound like the worst weather forecast ever, but for Venus, it’s just a regular day.

Why is Venus the hottest planet? When sunlight makes its way to Venus, it has no problem getting through the atmosphere and warming up the planet’s surface. The trouble starts when that heat tries to leave. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts like a big, cozy blanket, trapping the heat and preventing it from escaping back into space. This is what we call the greenhouse effect.

More space mysteries & answers to your questions about the planets!

• How old is the Earth?
  If you are wondering how old the Earth is, the estimated age of the Earth is around 4.54 billion years old give or take a few million years. This age is based on a combination of evidence, including the age of the oldest-known rocks, the age of lunar samples brought back by Apollo missions, and … continue reading.
• How fast does the Earth spin?
  It’s strange to think that Earth the planet we are living on is continually spinning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year as it orbits the Sun. One full orbit of the Sun takes a full year and and is the basis for the formation of our calendar. It … continue reading.