1. Comparing the Planets 10 October 2011

2. Mercury Venus Earth Moon Mars Terrestrial Planets

3. 4 geological processes: Impacts Volcanism Tectonics Erosion

4. PlanetMeasured Density [g cm -3 ] Uncompressed* Density [g cm -3 ] Mercury5.435.3 Venus5.244.0 Earth5.5154.1 Moon3.363.3 Mars3.943.7 Density -> clue about size of core

5. Processes that HEAT planets

6. Processes that COOL planets Eruptions!

7. Lunar Catacysm: Late Heavy Bombardment

9. Stages in evolution lead to the Late Heavy Bombardment

10. Surface of Mercury

11. Mercury craters

12. Lunar Far side

13. Mars craters

14. Meteor Crater Arizona

16. Galapagos Islands

17. Mars lava flow

18. Mars channel

19. Dendritic Tributaries in Yemen

20. 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

21. Size makes a difference Small planets cool Large planets remain active