Tuesday October 4, 2011

1. TuesdayOctober 4, 2011 (Mars; Jupiter; Video – Journey to the Edge of the Universe – Part 5)

2. The Launch Pad Tuesday, 10/4/11 Identify this object.

3. The Launch Pad Tuesday, 10/4/11 Identify this object.

4. The Launch Pad Tuesday, 10/4/11 Identify this object.

5. The Launch Pad Tuesday, 10/4/11 Identify this object.

6. The Launch Pad Tuesday, 10/4/11 Identify this object.

8. Latest News There are many ways rocks can be textured. Wind erosion, water erosion, the escape of volcanic gases during their formation (in the case of igneous rocks)… all these forces can create the pitted textures found on many rocks on Earth… and perhaps even on Mars. And according to a report published by a group of planetary geologists led by James Head of Rhode Island’s Brown University, another method may also be at play on Mars: melting snow.

9. Mars • The “Red Planet” • Mars’ Atmosphere • 1% as dense as Earth’s • Primarily carbon dioxide • Cold polar temperatures (about –193ºF) • Polar caps of water ice, covered by a thin layer of frozen carbon dioxide • Extensive dust storms with winds up to 270 kilometers (170 miles) per hour

10. Mars • Mars’ Surface • Numerous large volcanoes – largest is Mons Olympus • Less-abundant impact craters • Tectonically dead • Several canyons • Some larger than Earth’s Grand Canyon • Valles Marineris – the largest canyon

11. Mars • Mars’ Surface • “Stream drainage” patterns • Found in some valleys • No bodies of surface water on the planet • Possible origins • Past rainfall • Surface material collapses as the subsurface ice melts

12. Mars’ Surface Figure 22.14

13. Spirit and Opportunity Mars Exploration Rovers • These two rovers found that Mars is made of basalt rock and groundwater that is dilute sulfuric acid. • They confirmed sufficient amounts of water have been present in the past.

14. Mars • Mars’ Moons • Mars has two moons • Phobos • Deimos • They are probably captured asteroids

15. Jupiter • Jupiter is our solar system’s largest planet • Jupiter is very massive: • Its 2.5 times more massive than the combined masses of the planets, moons, and asteroids • If it had been 10 times more massive, it would have been a small star • Jupiter’s rapid rotation • Slightly less than 10 hours • Causes a slightly bulged equatorial region

16. Jupiter • Jupiter’s atmospheric clouds have a banded appearance. • The multicolored bands are aligned parallel to Jupiter’s equator and are generated by wind systems. • The Great Red Spot • In Jupiter’s southern hemisphere is a counterclockwise rotating cyclonic storm that has been raging for centuries.

17. Jupiter Jupiter’s atmospheric clouds

18. Jupiter • Structure • Jupiter’s surface is thought to be a gigantic ocean of gaseous hydrogen. • At greater depths, the gas turns to liquid hydrogen. • Halfway into the interior, extreme pressures cause hydrogen gas to turn into a metallic liquid. • Rocky and metallic material probably exists in a central core. • A diamond?

19. Jupiter • Moons of Jupiter • Currently, Jupiter has 63 known moons. • Its four largest moons were discovered by Galileo and are called the Galilean satellites. • Each of the Galilean moons has its own unique character. • Io is the innermost Galilean moon and is also volcanically active. • Europa is the smallest Galilean moon. • Ganymede is the largest Jovian satellite. • Callisto is the outermost Galilean moon.

20. Io

21. Europa

22. Ganymede

23. Callisto

24. Video (Part 5)