Venus reflects light due to its thick atmosphere composed predominantly of carbon dioxide, with clouds made up of sulfuric acid. This dense atmospheric layer is highly reflective, causing sunlight to be scattered and reflected back into space, giving the planet its bright appearance from Earth. These reflective clouds obscure the planet’s surface from view and contribute to the phenomena where Venus appears to shine brightly, sometimes leading to the misinterpretation that it might have a surrounding halo or a distinct layer enveloping it. This reflective property is why Venus is often one of the brightest objects in the night sky.