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Proximity to the sun is not the whole story. Mercury is practically touching our star, yet Venus takes the title of the hottest planet in the solar system. The surface temperature averages 465 degrees Celsius. Lead melts at 327 degrees. The culprit is the atmosphere. Venus is wrapped in a dense blanket of carbon dioxide that drives a runaway greenhouse effect. Add in a surface pressure roughly equal to being 900 metres underwater, and the planet is entirely hostile. We have sent landers there. The crushing heat and weight meant they survived for barely a few minutes.

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