Atlas of Worlds

Counterintuitive comparison

Which world is hottest, and what does “hot” mean there?

Venus is hottest at its physical surface: 464 °C. No global mean is established for Titan; context stays unranked.

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have no solid surface; their values use the one-bar reference level.

3 worlds have no established global mean: Moon, Titan, and Europa. 9 are ranked.

Temperature ranked comparisonWhich world is hottest, and what does “hot” mean there? Bars begin at absolute zero; 9 of 12 worlds are ranked. Earth is Atlas’s default baseline and the reference marker. Hatched bars show values at the one-bar reference level: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. A bracket joins each shared rank; Atlas does not distinguish order at the stored tolerance. Non-ranked references use a separate scale: Sun (5,499 °C). The largest anchor is 7.83 times the largest ranked world value, so a scale break is shown.Earthreference1Venus464 °C2Mercury167 °C3Earth15 °C4Mars-65 °C5Jupiter-110 °C6Saturn-140 °C7=Uranus-195 °C7=Neptune-200 °C9Pluto-225 °C—MoonNot established—TitanNot established—EuropaNot establishedNon-ranked referencesSeparate scale · anchors only—Sun5,499 °C
Temperature values run from highest to lowest; bars start at absolute zero. Earth is the reference. Hatched bars use the 1-bar reference level; solid bars use a physical surface. A bracket means Atlas does not distinguish order at the stored tolerance. Non-ranked references appear in a separate anchor band and do not affect world ranks or scale. A break marks anchors larger than the largest ranked world value.
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. Temperature is shown in °C; differences are measured from Earth. Shared ranks use the stored comparison tolerance. Non-ranked references follow the worlds on a separate scale and are not compared with the selected reference world.
RankWorldValuevs. EarthReference levelStateEvidence
Venus464 °C+449 °CPhysical surfaceSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Venus

Published value
464 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
venus:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Venus 867°F (464°C)Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
Mercury167 °C+152 °CPhysical surfaceSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Mercury

Published value
167 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
mercury:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Mercury 333°F (167°C)Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
EarthDefault baselineReference15 °C0 °CPhysical surfaceSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Earth

Published value
15 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
earth:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Earth 59°F (15°C)Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
Mars-65 °C−80 °CPhysical surfaceSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Mars

Published value
-65 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
mars:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Mars -85°F (-65°C)Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
Jupiter-110 °C−125 °C1-bar reference levelSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Jupiter

Published value
-110 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
temperature at the 1-bar reference level
Reference level
1-bar reference level
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
jupiter:temperature:temperature_at_1_bar:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Jupiter -166°F (-110°C); giant values are at Earth sea-level pressureRetrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
Saturn-140 °C−155 °C1-bar reference levelSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Saturn

Published value
-140 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
temperature at the 1-bar reference level
Reference level
1-bar reference level
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
saturn:temperature:temperature_at_1_bar:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Saturn -220°F (-140°C); giant values are at Earth sea-level pressureRetrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
Uranus-195 °C−210 °C1-bar reference levelSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Uranus

Published value
-195 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
temperature at the 1-bar reference level
Reference level
1-bar reference level
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
uranus:temperature:temperature_at_1_bar:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Uranus -320°F (-195°C); giant values are at Earth sea-level pressureRetrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
Neptune-200 °C−215 °C1-bar reference levelSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Neptune

Published value
-200 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
temperature at the 1-bar reference level
Reference level
1-bar reference level
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
neptune:temperature:temperature_at_1_bar:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures on each planet: Neptune -330°F (-200°C); giant values are at Earth sea-level pressureRetrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
Pluto-225 °C−240 °CPhysical surfaceSettled
Source passportSettledNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Source passport: Pluto

Published value
-225 °C
Primary source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Settled

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
pluto:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:nasa_solar_system_temperatures:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA. (2022). Solar System Temperatures.Locator: Mean temperatures: Pluto -375°F (-225°C)Retrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2022-02-15Tier B · us-government-work · reuse allowedNumerical facts are retained with NASA credit.
—MoonNot established—Physical surfaceNot established
Source passportNot establishedNo admissible source

Source passport: Moon

Canonical value
Not established
Canonical source
No admissible source
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Not established

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
moon:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:unknown:0
Dataset version
0.1

Related context

  • diurnal mean bolometric surface temperature at the equator: -57.65 °CIcarusProvenance relationship not established.

Related context sources

  1. The global surface temperatures of the Moon as measured by the Diviner Lunar Radiometer ExperimentIcarusWilliams, J.-P., Paige, D. A., Greenhagen, B. T., & Sefton-Nash, E. (2017). The global surface temperatures of the Moon as measured by the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. Icarus, 283, 300–325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.08.012Locator: Section 4.4 and Figure 19: mean temperature at the equator is 215.5 KRetrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2017-02-01Tier C · CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 · reuse allowedAtlas retains one cited numerical observation and does not redistribute the article, figures, or tables.
—TitanNot established—Physical surfaceNot established
Source passportNot establishedNo admissible source

Source passport: Titan

Canonical value
Not established
Canonical source
No admissible source
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Not established

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
titan:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:unknown:0
Dataset version
0.1

Related context

  • longitude-averaged equatorial surface brightness temperature: -179.5 °CNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterProvenance relationship not established.

Related context sources

  1. Titan Surface Temperatures as Measured by Cassini CIRS (conference abstract)NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterJennings, D. E., et al. (2009). Titan Surface Temperatures as Measured by Cassini CIRS. NASA Technical Reports Server, 20090008678.Locator: Abstract: CIRS measures the equatorial surface brightness temperature to be 93.7 ± 0.6 KRetrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2009-02-26Tier B · facts-with-citation · reuse allowedNTRS classifies this record as an abstract and does not identify it as a U.S. government work. Atlas retains the cited numerical result only.
—EuropaNot established—Physical surfaceNot established
Source passportNot establishedNo admissible source

Source passport: Europa

Canonical value
Not established
Canonical source
No admissible source
Definition
mean temperature at the physical surface
Reference level
Physical surface
Epoch
Not tied to a stated epoch
Resolution state
Not established

Provenance details

Uncertainty
Not stated
Alternatives
No competing admissible value
Value ID
europa:temperature:mean_surface_temperature:unknown:0
Dataset version
0.1

Related context

  • modeled global and annual mean surface temperature: -180 °CHeliyonProvenance relationship not established.

Related context sources

  1. The surface temperature of EuropaHeliyonAshkenazy, Y. (2019). The surface temperature of Europa. Heliyon, 5(6), e01908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01908Locator: Abstract and Section 3: for the typical internal-heating case, global and annual mean surface temperature is 90 KRetrieved 2026-08-30 · published 2019-06-21Tier C · CC-BY-4.0 · reuse allowedOpen-access article under CC BY 4.0; Atlas retains the cited modeled result with its assumptions and definition.
SunNon-ranked reference5,499 °CNot applicableSettled
Source passportSettledInternational Astronomical Union

Source passport: Sun

Published value
5,499 °C
Primary source
International Astronomical Union
Definition
nominal effective temperature of an equivalent radiating blackbody
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
sun:temperature:solar_effective_temperature:iau_resolution_b3_2015:0
Dataset version
0.1

Sources

  1. Resolution B3 on Recommended Nominal Conversion Constants for Selected Solar and Planetary PropertiesInternational Astronomical UnionInternational Astronomical Union. (2015). Resolution B3 on recommended nominal conversion constants for selected solar and planetary properties.Locator: Resolution B3, solar conversion constants: nominal solar effective temperature 5772 K, exact by definitionRetrieved 2026-09-01 · published Not statedTier A · facts-with-citation · reuse allowedAtlas retains only the resolution's exact nominal conversion constants and credits the IAU; the resolution document and typography remain under their upstream terms.

Why the result changes

Why this order?

Temperature comparisons need a definition as much as a number. Physical-surface means and 1-bar values describe different reference levels. The Sun's anchor is a nominal effective temperature—an equivalent-radiating quantity rather than a reading from one solar layer. The corona can be hotter than the visible photosphere.

The Sun appears only as a non-ranked effective-temperature reference on a separate scale.

For a familiar inner-world check, Venus is hotter than Mercury, which is hotter than Earth.

Definition and evidence

What this comparison means.

Definitions

  • mean temperature at the physical surface
  • temperature at the 1-bar reference level
  • nominal effective temperature of an equivalent radiating blackbody

Rows without an established global mean remain visible; their passports keep narrower observations separate.

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 2026-08-30–2026-09-01 · canonical page /worlds/temperature/

Sources used by this comparison

  1. The surface temperature of EuropaHeliyonTier C
  2. The global surface temperatures of the Moon as measured by the Diviner Lunar Radiometer ExperimentIcarusTier C
  3. Resolution B3 on Recommended Nominal Conversion Constants for Selected Solar and Planetary PropertiesInternational Astronomical UnionTier A
  4. Titan Surface Temperatures as Measured by Cassini CIRS (conference abstract)NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterTier B
  5. Solar System TemperaturesNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationTier B
  6. Sun: FactsNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

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.

https://yalethom.as/worlds/temperature/

Cite this view

Yale Thomas. Atlas of Worlds. “Which world is hottest, and what does “hot” mean there?” View: default. Dataset 0.1. https://yalethom.as/worlds/temperature/. 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)