Conditions comparison

How much sunlight reaches each world?

At mean orbital distance, Mercury receives the most sunlight: 9,083 W/m². That is about 10,400 times the sunlight at Pluto.

Sunlight values run from highest to lowest; bars start at zero. Earth is the reference. A bracket means Atlas does not distinguish order at the stored tolerance. Of the 12 world rows, 7 positive-value bars are shown at a fixed locator minimum and are not proportional below it; use value labels and the table for exact comparison.

Values / method / sources

Values and sources

The chart, in inspectable form.

Every row keeps its reference level, resolution state, and source attached. Derived means Atlas calculated the value from published inputs with a registered formula.

Published comparison values. Solar irradiance is shown in W/m²; ratios use Earth as the reference. Shared ranks use the stored comparison tolerance.
Rank	World	Value	vs. Earth	Reference level	State	Evidence
Rank 1	Mercury	9,083 W/m²	6.67×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Mercury Source passport: Mercury Published value 9,083 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `mercury:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_mercury_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Mercury Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Mercury Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-02-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Mercury/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Mercury 9082.7 W/m²Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Rank 2	Venus	2,601 W/m²	1.91×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Venus Source passport: Venus Published value 2,601 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `venus:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_venus_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Venus Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Venus Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-02-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Venus/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Venus 2601.3 W/m²Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Tied at rank 3 within the stored tolerance	EarthDefault baselineReference	1,361 W/m²	1×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Earth Source passport: Earth Published value 1,361 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `earth:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_earth_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Earth Fact Sheet (2024-11-16 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Earth Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-11-16; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Earth Fact Sheet, Bulk parameters, Solar irradiance: 1361.0 W/m²Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Tied at rank 3 within the stored tolerance	Moon	1,361 W/m²	1×	Not applicable	Derived	Source passportDerivedNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Moon Source passport: Moon Published value 1,361 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Derived Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `moon:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:solar_irradiance_from_parent_system:0` Dataset version 0.1 Atlas derivation Formula: Solar irradiance inherited from the parent system `solar_irradiance_from_parent_system` Solar irradiance: 1,361 W/m²mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphereNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center`earth:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_earth_fact_sheet_archive:0` Sources Earth Fact Sheet (2024-11-16 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Earth Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-11-16; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Earth Fact Sheet, Bulk parameters, Solar irradiance: 1361.0 W/m²Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Rank 5	Mars	586.2 W/m²	0.431×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Mars Source passport: Mars Published value 586.2 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `mars:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_mars_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Mars Fact Sheet (2024-09-15 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Mars Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-09-15; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Mars/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Mars 586.2 W/m²Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Tied at rank 6 within the stored tolerance	Europa	50.26 W/m²	0.0369×	Not applicable	Derived	Source passportDerivedNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Europa Source passport: Europa Published value 50.26 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Derived Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `europa:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:solar_irradiance_from_parent_system:0` Dataset version 0.1 Atlas derivation Formula: Solar irradiance inherited from the parent system `solar_irradiance_from_parent_system` Solar irradiance: 50.26 W/m²mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphereNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center`jupiter:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_jupiter_fact_sheet_archive:0` Sources Jupiter Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Jupiter Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Jupiter/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Jupiter 50.26 W/m²Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Tied at rank 6 within the stored tolerance	Jupiter	50.26 W/m²	0.0369×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Jupiter Source passport: Jupiter Published value 50.26 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `jupiter:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_jupiter_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Jupiter Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Jupiter Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Jupiter/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Jupiter 50.26 W/m²Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Tied at rank 8 within the stored tolerance	Saturn	14.82 W/m²	0.0109×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Saturn Source passport: Saturn Published value 14.82 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `saturn:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_saturn_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Saturn Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Saturn Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Saturn/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Saturn 14.82 W/m²Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Tied at rank 8 within the stored tolerance	Titan	14.82 W/m²	0.0109×	Not applicable	Derived	Source passportDerivedNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Titan Source passport: Titan Published value 14.82 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Derived Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `titan:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:solar_irradiance_from_parent_system:0` Dataset version 0.1 Atlas derivation Formula: Solar irradiance inherited from the parent system `solar_irradiance_from_parent_system` Solar irradiance: 14.82 W/m²mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphereNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center`saturn:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_saturn_fact_sheet_archive:0` Sources Saturn Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Saturn Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-04; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Saturn/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Saturn 14.82 W/m²Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Rank 10	Uranus	3.69 W/m²	0.00271×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Uranus Source passport: Uranus Published value 3.69 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `uranus:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_uranus_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Uranus Fact Sheet (2024-10-07 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Uranus Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-07; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Uranus/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Uranus 3.69 W/m²Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Rank 11	Neptune	1.508 W/m²	0.00111×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Neptune Source passport: Neptune Published value 1.508 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `neptune:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_neptune_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Neptune Fact Sheet (2024-10-06 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Neptune Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-10-06; retrieved 2026-08-30.Locator: Neptune/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Neptune 1.508 W/m²Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.
Rank 12	Pluto	0.873 W/m²	0.000641×	Not applicable	Settled	Source passportSettledNASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center for Pluto Source passport: Pluto Published value 0.873 W/m² Primary source NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center Definition mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere Reference level Not applicable Epoch Not tied to a stated epoch Resolution state Settled Provenance details Uncertainty Not stated Alternatives No competing admissible value Value ID `pluto:solar_irradiance:mean_orbit_solar_irradiance:nasa_nssdc_pluto_fact_sheet_archive:0` Dataset version 0.1 Sources Pluto Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterNASA NSSDC. Pluto Fact Sheet. Archived 2024-02-04; retrieved 2026-09-02.Locator: Pluto/Earth comparison table, Solar irradiance: Pluto 0.873 W/m²Retrieved 2026-09-02 · published Not statedTier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedThe live NSSDC host was unavailable during review, so Atlas cites a dated, immutable capture transparently. Each candidate locator transcribes the cited field's label, value, and unit. Report a value correction Reports are public and require a GitHub account.

Why the result changes

Why this order?

Solar irradiance is incident power per area measured normal to the Sun's rays, above any atmosphere. It is not surface temperature, daylight duration, visibility, or apparent brightness.

Values use mean heliocentric distance. The Sun is the source, not a comparison row.

Pluto receives the least: 0.873 W/m².

Definition and evidence

What this comparison means.

Definitions

mean-orbit solar irradiance normal to the Sun's rays above any atmosphere

Moon, Europa, and Titan inherit their parent planetary system's published value. This comparison describes how much sunlight reaches the system at its mean orbit, not the light at every location or moment.

Resolution states

Settled: Admissible values agree.
Derived: Calculated from published inputs.
Contested: Admissible values disagree.
Not established: No admissible value fits the definition.

Identity marks—not to scale

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Moon
Titan
Europa
Pluto

Credit: Blue Marble, March 2014 — NASA/GSFC; Europa full disk, Galileo — NASA/JPL; Full Moon — NASA/GSFC; High-resolution Jupiter globe — NASA/JPL/University of Arizona; Mars global mosaic — NASA/USGS; Mercury globe — NASA/JHUAPL/Carnegie Institution of Washington; Neptune, Voyager 2 — NASA/JPL; Pluto color view — NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI; Saturn, Cassini — NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute; Titan natural-color composite, Cassini — NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute; Uranus, Voyager 2 — NASA/JPL-Caltech; Venus radar-data globe — NASA/JPL

Dataset 0.1 · source records retrieved 2026-08-30–2026-09-02 · canonical page /worlds/sunlight/

Sources used by this comparison

Earth Fact Sheet (2024-11-16 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Planetary Fact Sheet Notes (2024-10-07 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data Center
Jupiter Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Mars Fact Sheet (2024-09-15 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Mercury Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Neptune Fact Sheet (2024-10-06 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Pluto Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Saturn Fact Sheet (2024-10-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Uranus Fact Sheet (2024-10-07 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B
Venus Fact Sheet (2024-02-04 NASA NSSDC archive capture)NASA Goddard Space Flight Center National Space Science Data CenterTier B

Keep and reuse

Link, cite, download, or present this comparison.

The link and citation track meaningful view settings. The CSV is one stable, reference-independent table with no reference-derived comparison column.

Link to this view

https://yalethom.as/worlds/sunlight/

Cite this view

Yale Thomas. Atlas of Worlds. “How much sunlight reaches each world?” View: default. Dataset 0.1. https://yalethom.as/worlds/sunlight/. Accessed [the date you viewed this page].

Without JavaScript, Atlas leaves a bracketed instruction so you can supply the date you viewed the page.

Download the table

Includes stable body, role, definition, value, provenance, version, attribution, and license fields in display order.

Download table (CSV)

How much sunlight reaches each world?

Sunlight comparison

The chart, in inspectable form.

Source passport: Mercury

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Venus

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Earth

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Moon

Provenance details

Atlas derivation

Sources

Source passport: Mars

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Europa

Provenance details

Atlas derivation

Sources

Source passport: Jupiter

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Saturn

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Titan

Provenance details

Atlas derivation

Sources

Source passport: Uranus

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Neptune

Provenance details

Sources

Source passport: Pluto

Provenance details

Sources

Why this order?

What this comparison means.

Definitions

Resolution states

Identity marks—not to scale

Sources used by this comparison

Link, cite, download, or present this comparison.

Link to this view

Cite this view

Download the table

Project mode