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Which planet is the hottest?

Venus, not Mercury, is the hottest planet in the solar system, and a day there lasts longer than a year; the Sun is not the only factor.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Chip Darnell on Weekend Edition
Published 6:42 AM ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026

Photo: ESO/Y. Beletsky · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Weird News

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Chip Darnell on this story, from Weekend Edition at 6:42 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are NASA's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Venus — Photo: ESO/Y. Beletsky · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by NASA: “Which planet is the hottest?”, with reporting from Wikipedia.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 6:42 AM ET on Weekend Edition, by Dr. Nina Byte and Chip Darnell.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

NASAWhich planet is the hottest?
WikipediaWhich planet is the hottest?

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentChip asked me which planet is the hottest. I have three doctorates, and this is my job now.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentFirst, the Sun. You might guess Mercury is the hottest, because it is closest to the Sun.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSure! The Sun is the pretzel stand at the mall entrance, and Mercury is the shop right next to it. Gets all the warmth.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentClose enough, sadly. But Venus is the hottest planet, even though Mercury is closer, per NASA.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorVenus is the store in the back?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentVenus has a super thick blanket of air that traps the Sun's heat.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOh, a store with no windows and one broken vent. Nobody gets out of there without a free sample and a sweat stain.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt is so hot on Venus that lead would melt. Not a sweat stain. Lead.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorDoes a day on Venus last longer than its year?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentYes! Venus spins so slowly that one spin takes longer than one trip around the Sun.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat is a genuinely brilliant question, Chip.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the store never finishes a single shift all year? Is that place hiring?

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