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Geology
Mercury is the most moon-like planet. It’s covered with craters and associated features(Rays and halos).
Core = 60% mass
Crust = 40% mass
Geology
A large impact early in the planet’s history may have torn away a fraction of the mantle and crust.
Astronomy
Zero moons and almost zero tilt
Rotation = 243 Earth days
Revolution =225 Earth days
Sun rises in the West!
Meteorology
Atmosphere: Thick layer of carbon dioxide which causes a runaway greenhouse effect. Thick clouds of sulfuric acid surround Venus and block the view of the surface.
Geology
Continents, great mountain ranges and active volcanoes
Convection currents but not full scale plate movement
Addams Impact Crater
Volcanic craters are usually smaller, deeper and at the top of a mountain. Geology
Earth-Average in size-The least number of impact craters-Continents-Plate tectonics-Origin similar to Venus-Ozone layer & many other unique characteristics
Meteorology
-Thin Carbon dioxide atmosphere that is 1/10 that of Earth-Seasons because of the planet’s tilt-CO2 snow in winter that causes ice caps to grow-Major dust storms in summer that blanket the planet
History
Mars Pathfinder Landed July 4th, 1997
Weather, atmosphere and chemistry of rocks was analyzed
Meteorology
Bright zones are high pressure systems of warm gas rising.
Dark belts are low pressure systems of cool gas sinking.
Circular areas are counterclockwise storm systems.
Outer Layer mainly hydrogenAt greater depths the hydrogen becomes a
metallic liquid which generates an intense
magnetic field
The center is a rocky core 10 times the size of Earth
Meteorology
Io
Tidal forces create nonstop volcanic activity
Orange color caused by
frozen sulfur compounds
Moons of Jupiter
Europa
Cracked eggshell surface
The ice surface
continuously reforms and
covers meteor impacts
Moons of Jupiter
Scientists speculate that ice may be several kilometers thick and there may be a 100 km deep
ocean below it.
Moons of Jupiter
Geology
Most easily visible ring system of all the gas giants
Rings will gradually fall into planet
Rings made of water ice
Huygens Probe landedJanuary 14 2005
First probe to land on a Moon in the outer Solar System
Moon of Saturn
Moon of Saturn
The landing site appears to be shoreline with dendritic stream channels.
The probe lasted approximately 90 minutes.