Chapter 30.2 Flashcards
Mercury
smallest and closest planet to the sun
Venus
second closest planet to the sun
Earth
third planet from the sun
Mars
fourth planet from the sun
How did the solar system form?
from a nebula that collapsed
How long ago did the solar system form?
4.6 billion years ago
What is Mercury’s atmosphere like?
it has no true atmosphere
Which planet is referred to as Earth’s sister planet?
Venus
What is Venus’s atmosphere like?
very dense and very hot
What states can water exist as due to the temperatures on Earth?
solid, liquid, or gas
What is Mars also known as?
the red planet
Why is Mars red?
iron oxide
How many moons does Mars have?
2
What are the names of the two moons?
Phobos and Deimos
What does the names mean?
Phobos-fear Deimos-panic
What was the mission of Spirit and Opportunity?
To search for liquid water
What did the Mars Reconnaissance Orbit discover?
sediment layering and gullies
What did the Mariner 9 discover?
Valles Marineris, a large canyon and extinct volcanoes
What did Viking 1 and 2 do?
photographed the entire surface of Mars
Global Surveyor
found that the Valles Marineris are similiar walls as the Grand Canyon
What did the Mars Odyssey discover?
Water as frost beneath the soil
What data was gathered by the Pathfinder and its rover Sojourner
iron may have been leeched by ground water
Where did the Curiosity rover land?
Gale crater
What were the goals of Curiosity?
Investigate climate and geology
Collect evidence for microbial
Study planetary habitability
