Format for Planet PowerPoint:

Planet Name

Astronomy

Meteorology

Geology

History

Zero tilt

and

Zero moons

Rotation = 59 Earth days

Revolution =88 Earth days

Astronomy

Mercury

Meteorology

427 Celsius

-173 Celsius

no atmosphere

Geology

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.