Solar System topics for the exam:
Chapter 16: Origin of the Solar System
Evidence of Assembly Process? Craters
Craters evident on almost all small “planets”
Chapter 17: Terrestrial Planets
Earth’s Atmosphere: Greenhouse Effect
Examples of craters on the moon
Expect Venus to be
similar to Earth?
(It isn’t!)
Surface Relief of Venus from Radar
Lots of Martian Science Fiction
Mars and the Pattern of
Geologic Activity
and Atmospheric Loss
Which planets can retain which gasses?
Ancient River
Channels?
(note channels older than some craters – by superposition)
Recent liquid water?
(water seeping out of underground “aquifer” ?)
Chapter 18: Worlds of the Outer Solar System
Ice+Rock Core H+He “Atmosphere”
Saturn as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope
Rings are individual particles all orbiting separately
Jupiter as a miniature solar system
Io, Europa break rules about activity
Tidal heating explains activity
Ch. 19: Meteorites, Asteroids, Comets
Phobos & Deimos: Two “misplaced” asteroids?
Large Meteor over the Tetons (1972)
Comets: Hale-Bopp in April 1997