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Comparing the Planets 15 October 2012
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Mars Venus Mercury Earth Moon Terrestrial Planets
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4 geological processes:
Impacts Volcanism Tectonics Erosion
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Density -> clue about size of core
Planet Measured Density [g cm-3] Uncompressed* Density [g cm-3] Mercury 5.43 5.3 Venus 5.24 4.0 Earth 5.515 4.1 Moon 3.36 3.3 Mars 3.94 3.7 Density -> clue about size of core
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Processes that HEAT planets
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Processes that COOL planets
Eruptions!
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Lunar Catacysm: Late Heavy Bombardment
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Stages in evolution lead to the Late Heavy Bombardment
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Surface of Mercury
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Mercury craters
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Lunar Far side
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Mars craters
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Meteor Crater Arizona
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Venus Pancake Domes
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Galapagos Islands
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Mars lava flow
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Mars channel
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Dendritic Tributaries in Yemen
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Common factors for the terrestrial planets
Hot formation External bombardment Internal processes lead to tectonics Basaltic lava flows Cooling: Moon, Mercury senescent Mars middle years show continuing activity Earth and Venus still active
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Size makes a difference
Small planets cool Large planets remain active
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