Comparative Planetology and Observing Earth’s Neighbors

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Mercury

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31 Terms

1

Mercury

This planet is a small, incredibly hot world with a weaker version of Earth's magnetic field throughout the entire planet.

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2

Venus

This planet has a sweltering climate. It is hotter than Mercury, despite being farther from the Sun.

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3

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which atmospheric gases raise the temperature by absorbing outward-flowing heat.

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4

Mars

This planet is too chilly for life to exist

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5

Mercury

It has many craters like the Moon, but it also has a molten iron core that creates a magnetic field, just like Earth.

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6

Venus

This planet is considered as Earth’s evil twin.

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7

Mars

This planet is the miniature Earth that dried up and cooled.

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8

Morning Star

A bright planet appearing in the east before dawn.

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9

Evening Star

A bright planet appearing in the west after sunset.

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10

Elongation

It is the angular separation between a planet and the Sun, as visible from Earth.

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11

Greatest western or eastern elongation

These happen when a planet is at its farthest possible distance from the Sun during a specific apparition.

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12

Apparition

A period of time when the planet is visible from Earth on successive nights.

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13

Opposition

It occurs when a planet is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun.

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14

Conjunction

It occurs when two solar system objects are near each other in the sky, such as when the Moon passes near Venus as we see them.

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15

Ascension

The position of a star measured in the east–west direction.

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16

Declination

The position of a star measured in the north-south direction.

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17

Ecliptic

A circle in the sky that represents the path of the Sun through the constellations.

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18

Ecliptic Latitude and Longitude

Measure degrees north and south or east and west with respect to the ecliptic.

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19

Superior Planet

It orbits outside the orbit of Earth

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20

Inferior Planet

It orbits inside the orbit of Earth.

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21

Averted Vision

Glimpse out of the corner of your eye.

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22

Terminator

The dividing line between the bright and dark parts of Venus.

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23

Ashen Light

The pale glow on the dark part of Venus.

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24

Planetary Transit

When a planet passes right in front of the Sun and looks like a tiny black disk against the bright solar surface.

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25

Sytris Major

A large dark area on Mars extending northward from the equator.

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26

Albedo Map

It maps and identifies the bright and dark regions of Mars that are visible using a tiny telescope. It provides more information than the typical observer ever sees, serves as a useful guide, and tests your observational abilities.

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27

Seeing

The steadiness of the atmosphere above the telescope.

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28

Transparency

The freedom from clouds and haze.

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29

Darkness

The freedom from interfering artificial light, moonlight, or sunlight.

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30

western elongation

Mercury is easiest to observe when it is at _____ and appears in the early morning twilight.

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31

6 - 8

At its greatest elongation, Mercury appears to be only ____ arc seconds in size.

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