solar system overview and terrestrial planets

Front

What are Maria?

Back

Flat areas on the Moon's surface formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.

Front

What is a planet?

Back

A celestial body that orbits the sun, has sufficient mass to be spherical, and is not a satellite.

Front

What is the largest mountain on Mars?

Back

Olympus Mons, which is about 13.6 miles (22 kilometers) high.

Front

What is a runaway greenhouse effect?

Back

A process where a planet's atmosphere traps heat, leading to extreme temperatures, as seen on Venus.

Front

What is the percentage of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere?

Back

Approximately 0.038%.

Front

Which planet is known for having the most craters?

Back

Mercury.

Front

What is the primary component of Venus's atmosphere?

Back

Carbon dioxide (about 96.5%).

Front

What are the terrestrial planets?

Back

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars; they are rocky and have solid surfaces.

Front

What is the significance of the term 'cleared its neighborhood' in defining a planet?

Back

It means a planet must be gravitationally dominant in its orbit and not share it with other bodies of similar size.

Front

What surface feature is unique to Mars?

Back

Dried river beds, indicating past water flow.