It's hidden in the article but I think this originates from a fascinating episode of the BBC's More or Less: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001y9p

Apologies for blowing my own trumpet, but after I listened to the episode I was so captivated by the idea that I tried my hand at visualising it: https://flother.is/2019/which-planet-is-closest-to-earth/

Oliver Hawkins, the researcher who found the answer for More or Less in the first place, also wrote about it: https://olihawkins.com/2019/02/1