Space factPlanets
Despite being farther from the Sun than Mercury, Venus is hotter—with surface temperatures of 467°C (872°F). Why? A runaway greenhouse effect. Venus’s thick atmosphere, mostly carbon dioxide, traps heat so efficiently that it’s hotter than a pizza oven day and night. If Earth’s climate ever spiraled out of control, Venus is a terrifying preview of what could happen.
467°C
Surface temperature on Venus