The Solar SystemThe Solar System

19.00.a1

MercuryMercury

SunSun

VenusVenus

EarthEarth

MarsMars

Asteroids

Asteroids

JupiterJupiter

SaturnSaturn

UranusUranus

NeptuneNeptune

Other objectsOther objects

Observe our solar systemObserve our solar system

Four inner planets Four inner planets called called terrestrial planetsterrestrial planets

Four outer planets are Four outer planets are called called gas giantsgas giants

Relative sizes and distances Relative sizes and distances are not to scale!are not to scale!

19.01.a

Images of Saturn using various Images of Saturn using various processing methodsprocessing methods

Images of Mars with and Images of Mars with and without a dust stormwithout a dust storm from from the Hubble telescope that the Hubble telescope that orbits Earthorbits Earth

Observations Using TelescopesObservations Using Telescopes

19.01.bRadar of Venus shows Radar of Venus shows bright areas (rough) and bright areas (rough) and darker areas (smooth)darker areas (smooth)

Radio waves sent from Radio waves sent from spacecraft to surfacespacecraft to surface

Waves reflect back Waves reflect back if surface is rough if surface is rough or faces or faces spacecraftspacecraft

Waves bounce awayWaves bounce away if surface smooth or surface smooth or slopes away from slopes away from spacecraftspacecraft

Using Radar to Study Planetary SurfacesUsing Radar to Study Planetary Surfaces

19.01.c1

Remotely Observing Temperature and CompositionRemotely Observing Temperature and Composition

Measure infrared energy given off: calculate temperature of Measure infrared energy given off: calculate temperature of surface or mineral compositionsurface or mineral composition

Reds show Reds show warmer warmer areas, blues areas, blues are coolerare cooler

Blue crater Blue crater floor inferred floor inferred to be loose to be loose sediment that sediment that cooled quicklycooled quickly

19.01.d

Remotely exploring planets and Remotely exploring planets and moons using landersmoons using landers

Geologist collecting samples Geologist collecting samples on Moonon Moon Remotely Remotely

exploring Mars using roversexploring Mars using rovers

Exploring the Exploring the Surfaces of Other Surfaces of Other

Planets and MoonsPlanets and Moons

Channel

Channel

Ice capIce cap

DustDust

BedrockBedrock

19.03.d

Enough atmosphere to Enough atmosphere to maintain ice capsmaintain ice caps

Dust and sand cover Dust and sand cover much of surface: much of surface: dust storms and dust storms and dunesdunes

Mostly basalt lava with Mostly basalt lava with some sedimentary rockssome sedimentary rocks

Evidence of Evidence of flowing water flowing water in pastin past

Mars, the Red PlanetMars, the Red Planet

19.08.a

The Geology of MarsThe Geology of MarsValles Marineris riftValles Marineris rift

Slope failuresSlope failures Layered rockLayered rockDunes in craterDunes in crater

Largest volcanoLargest volcano

Outflow Outflow channelschannels

19.08.b

What Have We Learned from Landers and Rovers on Mars?What Have We Learned from Landers and Rovers on Mars?

Mars Mars roversrovers

Investigate Investigate composition, composition, temperature, temperature, and takes and takes photosphotos

Layered rocksLayered rocks

MeteoriteMeteorite

Layered rocks (reflect water?)Layered rocks (reflect water?)

Spheres of hematiteSpheres of hematite

What Can We Observe About a Planet or Moon?What Can We Observe About a Planet or Moon?

19.02.a

AtmosphereAtmosphereCompositionComposition ImpactsImpacts

TectonicsTectonics VolcanismVolcanism Erosion and depositionErosion and deposition

19.02.b

Impact forms crater and Impact forms crater and fractures rocksfractures rocks

Object from space collides with Object from space collides with surface, as comet did on Jupitersurface, as comet did on Jupiter

Crater surround by Crater surround by apron of ejected piecesapron of ejected pieces

Impacts and CratersImpacts and Craters

19.02.d

Weathering and erosionWeathering and erosion

Deposition Deposition and slope and slope failuresfailures

WindWind

How Water and Wind Modify a Planet’s SurfaceHow Water and Wind Modify a Planet’s Surface

19.02.m1

More craters More craters indicate surface indicate surface exposed longerexposed longer

Smoother surfaces Smoother surfaces modified later by modified later by tectonics, volcanism, tectonics, volcanism, erosion, or deposition erosion, or deposition

Crater abundance Crater abundance (density) tells us (density) tells us relative age of relative age of surfaces surfaces

What can the abundance of craters tell us about the What can the abundance of craters tell us about the age of a surface?age of a surface?