Tour of the Solar System

Geology past the Earth

• The principles of geology can be used to study the surfaces of other planets.

Terrestrial planets

• Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

• Moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

• Pluto/Charon

Mercury• Mercury has a

lunar-like geology.

Caloris Basin

Mercury• Mercury is almost

tidally locked, like the Moon.

Santa Maria Rupes

Venus

• Venus’ surface has only been revealed in the past 10 years.

Venus

• The surface of Venus is like the surface of hell.

Venus• Venus has a young,

basaltic surface.

Mars

• Mars has the most Earth-like geology.

Mars

• Mars has a thin atmosphere of CO2.

Mars

• Familiar geologic features/processes.

Mars

• Familiar geologic features/processes.

Mars

• Mars’ geologic history was once warmer and wetter than now.

Jupiter

• Jupiter’s geologic features are all atmospheric.

Moons of Jupiter• Io is the most active

body in the Solar System.

Moons of Jupiter• “All these worlds are

yours except Europa…”

Moons of Jupiter• Ganymede and

Callisto are two of the larger bodies in the Solar System.

Saturn• Saturn is the

furthest out of the historical planets.

Saturn’s moons

Uranus & moons• Uranus orbits the

Sun on its side.

Neptune & moons

Pluto/Charon