Mercury is the most moon-like planet. It’s covered with craters and associated features(Rays and halos).
A B
Geology
Faulting from contraction of the planets surface
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.
History
Only two space probes have visited Mercury, Mariner 10, 1973 and Messenger 2008
Mercury
Venus
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
Danilova Crater
Geology
Geology
Interior thought to be similar to Earth’s
Inferred from gravity and magnetic fields
History
Over 30 space probes have been sent to Venus by NASA and the ESA.
Venera 13, 1982
First Color View of Venusian Surface
History
List four similarities and four differences betweenMars and Venus.
Earth
Earth-Average in size-The least number of impact craters-Continents-Plate tectonics-Origin similar to Venus-Ozone layer & many other unique characteristics
Mars
Astronomy
Rotation = 24.5 hoursRevolution =687 days
24 degree tiltand
two smallmoons
Astronomy
Phobos(Fear)
Deimos(Panic)
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
Geology
Olympus Mons
3X taller than Mt. Everest and as wide as the state of Montana
Geology
Geology
Dendritic Stream Pattern
A
B
Streamlined Islands
Geology
Channel caused by rapid permafrost melt
Geology
Geology
The Face of Mars
Viking MGS MGS color inverted
Geology
Geology
Geology
Discovered 1984 in Antarctica
GeologyNASA research published Aug. 16th 1996
Microscopic Tubular Structure
Geology
Fossils?
History
Mars Pathfinder Landed July 4th, 1997
Weather, atmosphere and chemistry of rocks was analyzed
History
Over 40 space probes have been sent to MarsThe newest arrival is MSL (Curiosity) 2012
History
Jupiter
Astronomy
Largest Planet
1 Revolution = 12 years
Fastest Rotation
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
Geology
Might be fragments from meteor impacts
Moons of Jupiter
Io
Europa
Ganymede
Callisto
Io
Tidal forces create nonstop volcanic activity
Orange color caused by
frozen sulfur compounds
Moons of Jupiter
Volcanic plume on Io
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
Europa Past and Future
Moons of Jupiter
History
Galileo
Galileo was launched 1989.
Saturn
Astronomy
Lowest Density
Most oblate 100 lbs on Earth = 107 lbs on Saturn
Meteorology
Banded Appearance
Up to 1800 km per hour wind speeds
Less storm activity
Geology
Most easily visible ring system of all the gas giants
Rings will gradually fall into planet
Rings made of water ice
Geology
Moon of Saturn
Titan
Discovered in 1655 by Christiaan Huygens
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.
Ring History for Saturn
In 1610 Galileo thought he was looking at one planet
with two large moons. In 1655 the idea was proposed that Saturn was surrounded by a large solid ring.
In 1979 Pioneer 11 became the first spacecraft to fly past Saturn and take pictures of the planet and rings.