The Inner Planets 30.2 Flashcards
Mercury
smallest and closest planet to the Sun
Venus
second planet from the Sun; has a dense atmosphere of mostly carbon dioxide and very high surface temperatures
Earth
third planet from the Sun; the only planet in the solar system known to have life, and where water exists as a solid, liquid, and a gas
Mars
fourth planet from the Sun; called the red planet because of concentrations of iron oxide
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?
Mercury has no atmosphere
Which planet is referred to Earth’s sister?
Venus
What is Venus atmosphere like?
Very dense and very hot also unbreathable
What states can water exist as due to the temperature on Earth?
solid, liquid, and gas
What is Mars also known as?
the red planet
Why is Mars red?
the iron ioxide
How many moons does Mars have?
2
What are the names of the 2 moons?
Phobos and Deimos
what does Phobos and Deimos mean?
Phobos-fear
Deimos-panic
What was the mission of Spirit and Oppertunity?
to search for liquid
What did the Mars Reconnaissance Orbit discover?
sediment layering and gullies
What did the Mariner 9 discover?
Valles Marineris- large canyon and distinct volcanoes
What did Viking 1 and Viking 2 do?
photographed the entire surface of Mars
Global Surveryor
found that they Valles Marineris has similar walls to Grand Canyon
What did the Mars Odyssey discover?
water as frost beneath a thin layer of soil
What data was gathered by the pathfinder and its rover, Sojouner
that iron may have been leached out by groundwater
Where did the Curiosity rover land?
Gale Crater
What were the goals of curiosity?
investigate climate of geology collect evidence for microbial life to study planetary habitability
