Assertion (A) : Venus is the brightest object in the sky after the sun. Reason (R) : Venus is the second planet from the sun in our solar system.

Assertion (A) is true; Venus is the brightest natural object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon [t1][t6][t9]. Its extreme brilliance is primarily due to its high albedo, as it is covered by thick, highly reflective clouds of sulfuric acid that reflect about 70-90% of sunlight [c2][t5][t10]. Reason (R) is also true; Venus is indeed the second planet from the Sun [c4][t1]. However, being the second planet is not the primary reason for its status as the brightest object. While its proximity to the Sun increases the intensity of light it receives [t2], its brightness is more significantly determined by its high reflectivity (albedo) and its relative proximity to Earth [t2][t4]. Therefore, while both statements are factually correct, the Reason does not provide the causal explanation for the Assertion.

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 2: The Solar System > Venus > p. 28
2. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 13: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet > Table 13.2: Planets in our solar system > p. 213
3. [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0019103505005105