Transcript Astro Ch 19 planets

Mercury vs. The Moon
Take notes for each of the following categories.
Be sure to include information on the Moon and
Mercury for each one.
Astronomy
Meteorology
Geology
History
Mercury
Rotation =
59 Earth days
Revolution =
88 Earth days
Zero tilt
and
Zero moons
Astronomy
-173 Celsius
427 Celsius
Basically no
atmosphere
Venus reflects 70% of the sun’s light. It has a high albedo
Meteorology
Mercury is the most
moon-like planet. It’s
covered with craters
and associated features
(Rays and halos).
Geology
Faulting from contraction
of the planets surface
A
B
Geology
Crust = 40% mass
Core = 60% mass
A large impact early in
the planet’s history
may have torn away a
fraction of the mantle
and crust.
Geology
Mercury
Only two space
probes have
visited Mercury,
Mariner 10, 1973
and Messenger
2008
History
Venus
Zero moons and
almost zero tilt
Rotation =
243 Earth days
Revolution =
225 Earth days
Sun rises in the West!
Astronomy
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.
Average
temp=874 degrees F
Meteorology
Continents, great
mountain ranges
and active
volcanoes
Convection currents
but not full scale
plate movement
Geology
Addams Impact Crater
Volcanic craters are usually smaller,
deeper and at the top of a mountain.
Geology
Danilova
Crater
Geology
Interior
thought to be
similar to
Earth’s
Inferred from gravity and
magnetic fields
Geology
Over 30 space probes have been sent to
Venus by NASA and the ESA.
History
Venera 13, 1982
First Color View of Venusian Surface
History
Earth
Which planet is closest to us?/Actually has the least amount of separation between 2 planets in the universe?
Also called out twin..
Earth
-Average in size
-The least
number of
impact craters
-Continents
-Plate tectonics
-Origin similar to
Venus
-Ozone layer &
many other unique
characteristics
Mars
Rotation =
24.5 hours
Revolution =
687 days
24 degree tilt
and
two small
moons
Astronomy
Deimos
(Panic)
Phobos
(Fear)
Astronomy
-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
-Temps range from 70 F to 200 F
Meteorology
Olympus Mons
Geology
3X taller than Mt. Everest and as wide as the state of Montana
Geology
Dendritic Stream Pattern
Geology
Streamlined Islands
B
A
Geology
Channel caused by rapid permafrost melt
Geology
Valles Marineris rift system is
one of the larger canyons of the Solar System,
surpassed only by the rift valleys of Earth and
(in length only)
by Baltis Vallis on Venus.les
The Face of Mars
Geology
Viking
MGS
MGS color inverted
Geology
Geology
Discovered 1984 in Antarctica
Geology
Microscopic Tubular Structure
NASA research published Aug. 16th 1996
Geology
Fossils?
Geology
Mars Pathfinder
Landed July 4th, 1997
Weather, atmosphere and chemistry of rocks
was analyzed
History
Most recent space probe to orbit Mars is MAVEN
launched November 18,2013
(Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission)
MAVEN mission will study the Martian atmosphere.
Arrived September 2014.
History
Over 40 space probes have been sent to Mars
History
ASTEROID BELT
• Asteroid – big lump of rock or metal that orbits around the
sun
• Most asteroids are between Mars and Jupiter = Asteroid
Belt
• The total mass of all the asteroids are less than that of the
moon!
• Movies show asteroids as being very close to one another
and dangerous to pass through, but they are VERY far
apart… so far that it’s unlikely you’ll even pass by one!
Jupiter
Largest
Planet
1 Revolution =
12 years
Fastest
Rotation
Astronomy
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.
Meteorology
Outer Layer mainly hydrogen
At greater depths the
hydrogen becomes a
metallic liquid which
generates an intense
magnetic field
Meteorology
The center is a rocky core 10 times the size of Earth
Might be
fragments from
meteor impacts
Geology
Io
Europa
Callisto
Ganymede
Moons of Jupiter
Io
Orange color
caused by
frozen sulfur
compounds
Tidal forces
create nonstop
volcanic activity
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
GanyemedeLargest moon in
the solar system.
Callisto-most
cratered body in
the solar system
Moons of Jupiter
Galileo
Galileo was launched 1989.
History
Saturn
Lowest
Density
Most oblate
100 lbs on
Earth =
107 lbs on
Saturn
Astronomy
Up to 1800 km
per hour wind
speeds
Less storm
activity
Banded
Appearance
Meteorology
Rings will
gradually
fall into
planet
Rings made
of water ice
Most easily
visible ring
system of
all the gas
giants
Geology
Geology
Titan
Discovered in 1655 by
Christiaan Huygens
Moon of Saturn
Huygens Probe landed
January 14 2005
First probe to land on a
Moon in the outer Solar
System
Moon of Saturn
The landing site appears to
be shoreline with dendritic
stream channels.
The probe lasted
approximately 90 minutes.
Moon of 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.
Ring History for
Saturn
URANUS
• 7th planet from Sun, 3rd largest
• Has winds from 90-360 mph
• Tipped on side from a collision a
long time ago with another
planet-sized body
• The blue-green appearance of its
atmosphere is from methane and
high-altitude smog. These gases
absorb red and reflect blue-green
wavelengths.
• The 27 moons of Uranus are named after
characters created by William Shakespeare
and Alexander Pope
• William Herschel identified Titania and
Oberon in 1787, these are the first two moons
of Uranus that were discovered.
NEPTUNE
• Blue because of Methane gas
• Strongest winds of any planet at about 1,200
miles/hr
• 8th, or Farthest planet from the Sun
• Occasionally farther from Sun than Pluto!
• Never visible to the naked eye
• Neptune has 13 moons, the largest of which
is named Triton. The other moons are:
Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Galatea, Larissa,
Proteus, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia,
Neso, and Psamathe.
• 10. Neptune has five main rings, they are
named after the people who had been doing
work on the planet; the rings are: Halle, Le
Verrier, Lassell, Arago, and Adams.
Pluto
• Dwarf Planet
• Small and Solid- Made of Ice and rock
• Temperature average is -400°F
A 100 pound person on Earth
 Mercury=37.8 lbs
 Venus=90.7lbs
 Moon=16.6lbs
 Mars=37.7lbs
 Jupiter=236.4lbs
 Saturn=106.4lbs
 Uranus=88.9lbs
 Neptune=112.5lbs
Planets Named after Roman Gods?
 Mercury- Messenger of the gods
 Venus-Goddess of Love
 Mars-God of War
 Jupiter-Ruler of the gods
 Saturn-Roman god of agriculture
 Uranus-Roman god of the sky
 Neptune- Lord of the seas
 Pluto-God of the underworld