Here's why:
* Venus's thick atmosphere: Venus has an extremely dense atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide. This atmosphere creates a powerful greenhouse effect, trapping heat and raising the surface temperature to an incredibly hot 464°C (867°F).
* Mercury's thin atmosphere: Mercury has a very thin, almost negligible atmosphere. This means there is little to trap the sun's heat, leading to extreme temperature swings between day and night. The average temperature on Mercury is around 167°C (333°F), but the hottest recorded temperature is 427°C (801°F).
Therefore, despite being closer to the sun, Mercury's lack of a substantial atmosphere means it doesn't hold onto heat as effectively as Venus, making Venus the hottest planet in our solar system.
