Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
241 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
57.91 million km from the sun
|
Mercury
|
|
.3871 a.u. from the sun
|
Mercury
|
|
Diameter of 4,878 km
|
Mercury
|
|
38% of the diameter of Earth
|
Mercury
|
|
.0553 times Earth's mass
|
Mercury
|
|
28% of Earth's gravity
|
Mercury
|
|
escape velocity of 4.3 km/sec
|
Mercury
|
|
58.65 Earth days for one rotation
|
Mercury
|
|
About 2 degrees of axial tilt
|
Mercury
|
|
innermost planet
|
Mercury
|
|
Named after the Greek god Hermes
|
Mercury
|
|
2nd smallest planet
|
Mercury
|
|
Virtually no atmosphere
|
Mercury
|
|
Almost always visible during twilight.
|
Mercury
|
|
88 Earth days to revolve around the sun
|
Mercury
|
|
Surface varies from 400 degrees C to -170 degrees C
|
Mercury
|
|
No satellites
|
Mercury
|
|
As a morning and evening star, it has a magnitude of about 0
|
Mercury
|
|
The next transit of this planet will occur in November of 2006 and November of 2016.
|
Mercury
|
|
108.2 million km from the sun
|
Venus
|
|
.7233 a.u. from the sun
|
Venus
|
|
12,102 km diameter
.949 Earth diameter |
Venus
|
|
88% of Earth's gravitational pull
|
Venus
|
|
10.4 km/sec escape velocity
|
Venus
|
|
5.25 density
|
Venus
|
|
Rotates in about 243 Earth days
|
Venus
|
|
Tilted on its axis at about 177 degrees
|
Venus
|
|
length of time a body takes to complete an orbit relative to the fixed stars.
|
sidereal period
|
|
alignment of two celestial bodies as seen from the earth.
|
conjunction
|
|
the angular distance between two points in the sky as measured from a third point.
|
elongation
|
|
length of time during which a body in the solar system makes one orbit of the sun relative to the earth
|
synodic period
|
|
brightest planet
|
Venus
|
|
third brightest object in the sky
|
Venus
|
|
Named after the goddess of love, Aphrodite
|
Venus
|
|
Associated with the element copper
|
Venus
|
|
Its craters might be named after famous women
|
Venus
|
|
Atmospheric pressure is 90 times that of Earth
|
Venus
|
|
Surface temperature of about 500 degrees C
|
Venus
|
|
Atmosphere mostly carbon dioxide
|
Venus
|
|
Clouds made mostly of sulfuric acid
|
Venus
|
|
US Magellan mapped its surface in 1990
|
Venus
|
|
Volcano Maat Mons
|
Venus
|
|
Retrograde rotation
|
Venus, Pluto, and Uranus
|
|
Slowest rotation of all planets
|
Venus
|
|
No satellites
|
Venus
|
|
length of time during which a body in the solar system makes one orbit of the sun relative to the earth
|
synodic period
|
|
brightest planet
|
Venus
|
|
third brightest object in the sky
|
Venus
|
|
Named after the goddess of love, Aphrodite
|
Venus
|
|
Associated with the element copper
|
Venus
|
|
Its craters might be named after famous women
|
Venus
|
|
Atmospheric pressure is 90 times that of Earth
|
Venus
|
|
Surface temperature of about 500 degrees C
|
Venus
|
|
Atmosphere mostly carbon dioxide
|
Venus
|
|
Clouds made mostly of sulfuric acid
|
Venus
|
|
US Magellan mapped its surface in 1990
|
Venus
|
|
Volcano Maat Mons
|
Venus
|
|
Retrograde rotation
|
Venus, Pluto, and Uranus
|
|
Slowest rotation of all planets
|
Venus
|
|
No satellites
|
Venus
|
|
3rd brightest object in the sky
|
Venus
|
|
Magnitude of -4
|
Venus
|
|
Planet that can sometimes be seen during the day.
|
Venus
|
|
20 month synodic period
|
Venus
|
|
When planets cross in front of the disk of the sun
|
Transit
|
|
Next transit is in June of 2012
|
Venus
|
|
5.978 x 10 to the 24th power kg
|
Earth
|
|
149,597,870 km from the sun
|
Earth
|
|
Density of 5.52
|
Earth
|
|
1 a.u. from the sun
|
Earth
|
|
gravity of 9.8 meters per second squared
|
Earth
|
|
Escape velocity of 11.2 meters per second
|
Earth
|
|
24 hour rotation
|
Earth
|
|
Sidereal period of 365.25 days
|
Earth
|
|
23.5 degrees of tilt on its axis
|
Earth
|
|
Once thought to be the center of the universe
|
Earth
|
|
Formulated the geocentric theory
|
Ptolemy
|
|
System that had Earth in the center of the universe
|
Ptolemaic system or geocentric system
|
|
Formulated the heliocentric system
|
Copernicus
|
|
System that has the sun at the center of our solar system
|
heliocentric system
|
|
This planet's name comes from old English and not from the names of Greco-Roman mythology
|
Earth
|
|
Planets that are small and rocky with a thin atmosphere
|
Terrestrial planets
|
|
Atmosphere consists mostly of oxygen and nitrogen
|
Earth
|
|
Only planet that supports life
|
Earth
|
|
Has one satellite, the moon
|
Earth
|
|
227.94 km from the sun
|
Mars
|
|
1.5237 a.u. from the sun
|
Mars
|
|
6,786 km diameter
|
Mars
|
|
53% of Earth's diameter
|
11% of Earth's mass
|
|
38% of Earth's gravity
|
Mars
|
|
Escape velocity of 5.0 km/sec
|
Mars
|
|
24.6 Earth hours for one rotation
|
Mars
|
|
A planet spinning on its axis
|
Rotation
|
|
A planet moving around the sun
|
Revolution
|
|
Sidereal period of 686.98 days
|
Mars
|
|
Synodic Period of 779.94 days
|
Mars
|
|
Its reddish gleam reminded the ancients of blood
|
Mars
|
|
Named after the Roman God of war
|
Mars
|
|
Only planet to have a star named for it (Antares)
|
Mars
|
|
Italian astronomer Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli thought he saw canals on this planet
|
Mars
|
|
Visited by two Viking spacecraft in the 1970's
|
Mars
|
|
Its largest valley is Valles Marinaris
|
Mars
|
|
Has the largest known volcano in the solar system
|
Mars
|
|
The largest known volcano in the solar system
|
Olympus Mons
|
|
Has an atmosphere .7% that of Earth's
|
Mars
|
|
Atmosphere of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon
|
Mars
|
|
An axial tilt about the same as Earth
|
Mars
|
|
Discovered Mars' moons
|
Asaph Hall
|
|
Mars' moons
|
Phobos and Deimos
|
|
Moon that is 9380 km from Mars
|
Phobos
|
|
Moon that is 23,460 km from Mars
|
Deimos
|
|
Perihelion
|
closest point to the sun
|
|
Mars' moon with 1.263 Earth day revolution
|
Deimos
|
|
Earth is between the planet and the sun
|
Opposition
|
|
When the sun is in between Earth and another planet
|
Conjunction
|
|
Name given to planets outside of Earth's orbit
|
Superior
|
|
Name given to planets inside of Earth's orbit
|
Inferior
|
|
778.33 million km from the sun
|
Jupiter
|
|
5.2028 a.u. from the sun
|
Jupiter
|
|
123,984 km diameter
|
Jupiter
|
|
11.23 Earth diameters
|
Jupiter
|
|
318 times Earth's mass
|
Jupiter
|
|
density of 1.33
|
Jupiter
|
|
2.4 times Earth's gravity
|
Jupiter
|
|
Escape velocity of 59.6 km/s
|
Jupiter
|
|
3.12 degree of axial tilt
|
Jupiter
|
|
Sidereal period of 11.8623 Earth days
|
Jupiter
|
|
Synodic period of 398.99 Earth days
|
Jupiter
|
|
Named after the Roman king of the gods
|
Jupiter
|
|
Named after the Greek king of the gods, Zeus
|
Jupiter
|
|
Largest planet
|
Jupiter
|
|
Fastest rotating planet (about ten hours to rotate once)
|
Jupiter
|
|
Rotation time of 9.841 Earth hours
|
Jupiter
|
|
This planet has an atmosphere of mostly hydrogen and helium
|
Jupiter
|
|
The Great Red Spot is located on this planet
|
Jupiter
|
|
This is a storm that has been raging on Jupiter for the last 300 years.
|
The Great Red Spot
|
|
Has a ring, though it is too faint to see from Earth
|
Jupiter
|
|
Known as a mini solar system
|
Jupiter
|
|
Has 16 known satellites
|
Jupiter
|
|
Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, and Thebe are its four inner satellites
|
Jupiter
|
|
Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto are known as this.
(4 of Jupiter's moons) |
Galilean Satellites
|
|
The most volcanically active object in our solar system.
|
Io (Jupiter's Moon)
|
|
Io's volcanoes consist mostly of molten ___________.
|
sulfur
|
|
Jupiter's moon that has a smooth surface, probably of water ice.
|
Europa
|
|
The largest planetary satellite in the solar system
|
Ganymede (Jupiter's moon)
|
|
The most cratered surface in the solar system
|
Callisto
|
|
Leda, Himalia, Lysithea, and Elara
|
Jupiter's Moons
|
|
Ananke, Carme, Pasiphae, Sinope
|
Jupiter's outermost moons
|
|
This planet has about a 13 month synodic period.
|
Jupiter
|
|
At opposition, it is the 4th brightest star in our night sky
|
Jupiter
|
|
1.4 billion km from the sun
|
Saturn
|
|
9.5 a.u. from the sun
|
Saturn
|
|
120,536 km in diameter
|
Saturn
|
|
95.181 times Earth's mass
|
Saturn
|
|
9.41 Earth diameters
|
Saturn
|
|
density of .69
|
Saturn
|
|
.923 times Earth's gravity
|
Saturn
|
|
Io's volcanoes consist mostly of molten ___________.
|
sulfur
|
|
Jupiter's moon that has a smooth surface, probably of water ice.
|
Europa
|
|
The largest planetary satellite in the solar system
|
Ganymede (Jupiter's moon)
|
|
The most cratered surface in the solar system
|
Callisto
|
|
Leda, Himalia, Lysithea, and Elara
|
Jupiter's Moons
|
|
Ananke, Carme, Pasiphae, Sinope
|
Jupiter's outermost moons
|
|
This planet has about a 13 month synodic period.
|
Jupiter
|
|
At opposition, it is the 4th brightest star in our night sky
|
Jupiter
|
|
1.4 billion km from the sun
|
Saturn
|
|
9.5 a.u. from the sun
|
Saturn
|
|
120,536 km in diameter
|
Saturn
|
|
95.181 times Earth's mass
|
Saturn
|
|
9.41 Earth diameters
|
Saturn
|
|
density of .69
|
Saturn
|
|
.923 times Earth's gravity
|
Saturn
|
|
Escape velocity of 35.5 km/sec
|
Saturn
|
|
Axial tilt of 26.73 degrees
|
Saturn
|
|
Sidereal period of 29.458 years
|
Saturn
|
|
Synodic period of 378.09 days
|
Saturn
|
|
Thought to be the mark of the outer boundary of the solar system until 1781
|
Saturn
|
|
Named after the god of agriculture and time
|
Saturn
|
|
Second largest planet
|
Saturn
|
|
Planet that would float in water because of its very low density (.69)
|
Saturn
|
|
2nd fastest rotator of the planets
|
Saturn
|
|
Since the chemical reactions in its hydrogen-helium atmosphere is weaker, it has a duller color than Jupiter
|
Saturn
|
|
The dark area between Saturn's two main rings
|
Cassini's division
|
|
Its rings are probably less than 100 km thick
|
Saturn
|
|
Planet that has at least 18 satellites
|
Saturn
|
|
Its largest moon is Titan
|
Saturn
|
|
With its cloud cover, it is the largest moon in the solar system
|
Titan
|
|
Io's volcanoes consist mostly of molten ___________.
|
sulfur
|
|
Jupiter's moon that has a smooth surface, probably of water ice.
|
Europa
|
|
The largest planetary satellite in the solar system
|
Ganymede (Jupiter's moon)
|
|
The most cratered surface in the solar system
|
Callisto
|
|
Leda, Himalia, Lysithea, and Elara
|
Jupiter's Moons
|
|
Ananke, Carme, Pasiphae, Sinope
|
Jupiter's outermost moons
|
|
This planet has about a 13 month synodic period.
|
Jupiter
|
|
At opposition, it is the 4th brightest star in our night sky
|
Jupiter
|
|
1.4 billion km from the sun
|
Saturn
|
|
9.5 a.u. from the sun
|
Saturn
|
|
120,536 km in diameter
|
Saturn
|
|
95.181 times Earth's mass
|
Saturn
|
|
9.41 Earth diameters
|
Saturn
|
|
density of .69
|
Saturn
|
|
.923 times Earth's gravity
|
Saturn
|
|
Every 15-17 years, Earth passes through the ring plane of this planet, making them difficult to see
|
Saturn
|
|
Saturn's moons that are able to be seen with moderate sized instruments
|
Titan and Rhea
|
|
2.9 billion km from the sun
|
Uranus
|
|
19.19 a.u. from the sun
|
Uranus
|
|
51,118 km diameter
|
Uranus
|
|
14.5 times Earth's mass
|
Uranus
|
|
Density of 1.29
|
Uranus
|
|
79% of Earth's gravity
|
Uranus
|
|
Escape velocity of 21.3 km/sec
|
Uranus
|
|
Rotation period of 17.9 hours
|
Uranus
|
|
Axial tilt of 97.86 degrees
|
Uranus
|
|
Sidereal period of 84.01 Earth years
|
Uranus
|
|
Synodic period of 369.66 Earth days
|
Uranus
|
|
First planet discovered in modern times
|
Uranus
|
|
Planet found by William Hershel in 1781
|
Uranus
|
|
Named after the Greek sky god
|
Uranus
|
|
its axis nearly lies in the plane of its orbit
|
Uranus
|
|
15 known satellites
|
Uranus
|
|
Oberon, Umbriel, Titania, Ariel, and Marinda are moons of this planet
|
Uranus
|
|
Until 2015, it will be in the constellations Pisces, Aquarius, and Cetus
|
Uranus
|
|
4.5 billion km from the sun
|
Neptune
|
|
Diameter of 49,528 km
|
Neptune
|
|
3.81 times Earth's diameter
|
Neptune
|
|
17.135 times Earth's mass
|
Neptune
|
|
Density of 1.64
|
Neptune
|
|
1.122 times Earth's gravity
|
Neptune
|
|
Escape velocity of 23.3 km/sec
|
Neptune
|
|
Rotation period of 19.2 hours
|
Neptune
|
|
Sidereal period of 164.79 Earth years
|
Neptune
|
|
Axial tilt of 29.6 degrees
|
Neptune
|
|
Discovered in 1846
|
Neptune
|
|
Named after the Roman god of the deep sea
|
Neptune
|
|
Named after the Greek god Poseidon
|
Neptune
|
|
Outermost gas giant
|
Neptune
|
|
Only Venus has a more circular shaped orbit than this planet
|
Neptune
|
|
Has eight known satellites
|
Neptune
|
|
Triton is this planet's largest satellite
|
Neptune
|
|
Nereid is this planet's outermost satellite
|
Neptune
|
|
Through 2015, this planet will be in the constellation Copernicus
|
Neptune
|