How far from being totally molten are the surfaces of Venus and Mercury?
Their surfaces are already so hot that
As the Sun gradually becomes hotter :"A tin can placed on the sunlit side of Mercury or on the surface of Venus would melt.*"
- Page 12, 'Amazing Facts about Australia's Southern Skies', Steve Parish, Steve Parish Publishing Pty, no year listed.
- “The Planets” final episode - 'Destiny' , BBC TV, screened circa 1995-2005. (?)Our Sun’s brightness is gradually increasing by about 10 % every billion years.
Surely there will be a point at which both planets surfaces melt & beciome fluid lava rather than solid rock right?
When will this be and how hot will they get before these planets perish?
* On Venus the can would also be instantly crushed by the immense atmospheric pressure & corroded by the sulphuric acid clouds on the way down too! - StevoR


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