DAY 4 AST101

Flashcards covering key concepts related to the Solar System, including planets, their characteristics, and significant features.

Solar System

A star (or multiple stars) orbited by planets, moons, and debris (asteroids, comets, and dust). Mostly empty space.

Terrestrial Planets

Earth-like planets composed mainly of rock/heavy elements, small in size, with thin or no atmosphere and few moons.

Gas Giants

Planets that are composed of gas and liquid with a small rocky core, large in size, with many moons and rings.

Inner Planets

The four terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.

Outer Planets

The four giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Asteroid Belt

A region between Mars and Jupiter containing millions of rocks and debris, prevented from forming another planet by Jupiter's gravity.

Kuiper Belt

A ring or disk of comets orbiting beyond Neptune, left over material from the formation of the Solar System.

Oort Cloud

A spherical cloud of about a trillion comets extending out to 50,000 AU.

Trans-Neptunian Objects

Dwarf planets and other icy bodies beyond Neptune, including Pluto.

Mercury

The closest planet to the Sun, no atmosphere, highly cratered surface, with a large iron core and extreme temperature ranges.

Jupiter

The largest planet in the Solar System, known for its thick gaseous atmosphere and many moons.

Saturn

A gas giant recognized for its spectacular ring system and numerous moons.

Uranus

An ice giant with a blue color due to methane, known for rotating on its side.

Neptune

An ice giant similar to Uranus, with a methane atmosphere and many moons.

Olympus Mons

The largest volcano in the Solar System, located on Mars.

Valles Marineris

A massive canyon system on Mars, about 4000 km long and up to 7 km deep.

Mars Rovers

Robotic vehicles sent to Mars to explore its surface, including Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance.