Planets Quiz: Mercury and Venus Overview
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Questions and Answers

What are the names of two very large impact basins on Mercury?

  • Atlas and Hercules
  • Apollo and Tycho
  • Caloris and Rachmaninoff (correct)
  • Ferdinand and Galileo

    • What is the approximate thickness of Mercury's outer shell?

  • 250 miles (about 400 kilometers) (correct)
  • 1,000 kilometers
  • 100 kilometers
  • 600 kilometers

    • What is a key characteristic of Mercury's atmosphere?

  • It is a thick atmosphere similar to Earth's.
  • It is composed mostly of nitrogen.
  • It is a dense atmosphere containing breathable air.
  • It is a thin exosphere made up of different atoms. (correct)

    • Which spacecraft was the first to orbit Mercury?

    <p>MESSENGER</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily contributes to the generation of Mercury's exosphere?

    <p>Solar wind and meteoroid impacts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature does Mercury have that rises hundreds of miles long?

    <p>Cliffs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Mercury's internal structure compare in density to other planets?

    <p>It is the second densest planet after Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which spacecraft used a gravity assist to change its flight path?

    <p>Mariner 10</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the meaning of the word 'planet' derived from ancient Greek?

    <p>Wanderer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the IAU, which of the following is NOT a requirement for an object to be classified as a planet?

    <p>Must have a moon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant change did the IAU's 2006 resolution bring about regarding Pluto?

    <p>It was classified as a dwarf planet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which celestial body is included in the category of dwarf planets according to the IAU?

    <p>Eris</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What new category was established by the IAU alongside the definition of a planet?

    <p>Dwarf planet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered a dwarf planet as per the IAU's classification?

    <p>Venus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a planetary characteristic of bodies in the solar system?

    <p>Their size and gravity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the approximate number of dwarf planets believed to exist in the solar system, according to the document?

    <p>Around 100</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the average age of surface features on Venus?

    <p>Approximately 150 million years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which region of Venus is around the size of Australia?

    <p>Ishtar Terra</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic distinguishes Venus' surface from that of other rocky planets?

    <p>It has the fewest impact craters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily composes the atmosphere of Venus?

    <p>Carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is notable about the mountain found on Venus?

    <p>It is taller than Mt. Everest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of magnetic field does Venus have?

    <p>A weak induced magnetic field</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unique geological feature can be found on Venus, formed by viscous lava?

    <p>Pancake domes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What temperature condition occurs in Venus' atmosphere at higher altitudes?

    <p>Temperatures and pressure begin to ease</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the largest volcano in the solar system located on Mars?

    <p>Olympus Mons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the size of Valles Marineris compare to Earth's Grand Canyon?

    <p>Valles Marineris is about ten times larger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of Mars' atmosphere makes the sky appear hazy and red?

    <p>Suspended dust</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of water is currently found on Mars?

    <p>Water-ice and briny water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the height of Olympus Mons compared to Mount Everest?

    <p>It is three times taller.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Mars' thin atmosphere provides little protection against what?

    <p>Meteorite impacts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What geological features suggest that Mars had a watery past?

    <p>Ancient river valley networks and lakebeds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following gases is NOT a significant component of Mars' atmosphere?

    <p>Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary objective of the DAVINCI+ mission?

    <p>To measure the composition of Venus’ atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the solar wind affect Venus?

    <p>It induces a magnetic field around Venus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which will be the first U.S.-led mission to Venus’ atmosphere since 1978?

    <p>DAVINCI+</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of data will DAVINCI+ provide regarding Venus' geological features?

    <p>High-resolution images of unique geological features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of NASA's Mariner 2 mission?

    <p>It was the first spacecraft to visit any planet beyond Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of NASA’s planned VERITAS mission?

    <p>To analyze the geological history of Venus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What shaped the induced magnetic field around Venus?

    <p>The Sun's magnetic field interacting with Venus' ionosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unique geological features on Venus are potentially comparable to Earth's continents?

    <p>Tesserae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Planets

    • Definition: A celestial body that orbits a star, large enough to be spherical due to its own gravity, and has cleared its neighborhood of other objects of similar size
    • IAU: International Astronomical Union established a definition of a planet in 2006, which led to Pluto's reclassification as a dwarf planet.
    • Dwarf planets: Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Haumea, and Makemake

    Mercury

    • Density: Second densest planet after Earth due to its large metallic core
    • Surface: Evidence of volcanic activity, large impact basins, cliffs, and smooth terrain
    • Atmosphere: Thin exosphere composed of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium
    • Exploration: Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft to study Mercury, followed by MESSENGER and BepiColombo

    Venus

    • Surface: Volcanic features like valleys, mountains, and volcanoes
    • Hottest surface in the solar system: Due to its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere
    • No magnetic field: Venus has an induced magnetic field due to the interaction of the Sun's magnetic field and its ionosphere
    • Exploration: Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to visit Venus. NASA is planning two new missions: VERITAS and DAVINCI+.

    Mars

    • Largest canyon system: Valles Marineris, larger than the Grand Canyon
    • Largest volcano in the solar system: Olympus Mons, three times taller than Mt. Everest
    • Watery past: Evidence of ancient river valleys, deltas, and lakebeds
    • Present water: Water is found as ice under the surface in polar regions and as briny water flowing seasonally
    • Atmosphere: Thin atmosphere, dominated by carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon

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    Innermost Planets PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge about planets with a focus on Mercury and Venus. Explore their characteristics, explorations, and reclassification of celestial bodies like Pluto. This quiz covers essential facts about these intriguing planets in our solar system.

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