Mars and Jupiter’s Moons

Mars: Overview

• Fourth planet from the Sun.
• Moons: Two small moons - Deimos and Phobos.
• Surface Characteristics:
  • Reddish color due to high amounts of oxides; effectively rusted rocks.
  • Atmosphere: Thin, composed mainly of CO2, with a surface pressure 1% of Earth's.

Martian Environmental Phenomena

• Global Dust Storms: Frequent and can encompass the planet.
• Orbital Eccentricity: Mars has an eccentricity of 0.093 (meaning it has an elliptical orbit).
  • Comparison to other planets:
  • Mercury: 0.200
  • Venus: 0.007
  • Earth: 0.017

Seasonal Changes

• Changing Seasons:
  • North pole regions freeze during winter and melt in summer.
  • Polar ice caps consist of ice and a thin layer of CO2.

Mars Exploration Missions

• Curiosity Rover (2012)
• Opportunity & Spirit Rovers (2004)
• Sojourner Rover (1997)
• Mars Odyssey Satellite (2001)

Water on Mars

• Evidence of Water: Historical presence with geological features indicating past liquid water.
• Loss of Water: Initial magnetic field loss led to atmospheric stripping by solar winds.

Geological Features

• Valles Marineris: An extensive canyon over 4,000 km long.
• Olympus Mons: Largest volcano in the solar system.

Martian Moons

• Deimos and Phobos: Likely captured asteroids.
  • Deimos: "Dread".
  • Phobos: "Fear" - constantly moving towards Mars’s surface.
  • Visuals: Comparison of Moon sizes as seen from Mars vs. Earth.

Jupiter: Overview

• Fifth planet from the Sun with 80 known moons (4 are planet-sized).
• Largest and most massive planet, 314 times the mass of Earth.
• Considered a "failed star" due to its mass nearing that of the smallest stars.

Galilean Moons of Jupiter

• Moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto.
  • All are tidally locked to Jupiter.
  • Europa: Slightly smaller than Earth's Moon.

Io: Geological Activity

• Most volcanically active body in the solar system, with around 400 active volcanoes.
• Surface features: Almost no craters.
  • Coloration: Reds and yellows from sulfur.

Orbital Resonance

• Relationships between the Galilean satellites:
  • Io: 42-hour orbit
  • Europa: 84-hour orbit (2x Io)
  • Ganymede: 168-hour orbit (4x Io)

Volcanism on Io

• Active eruptions produce plumes that extend 200 miles above the surface.

Europa: Potential for Life

• Composition: Rocky core with water ice.
  • Possible sub-surface ocean heated from interior forces.
• Liquid Water Indications:
  • Surface ice cracks suggest subsurface movement.
  • Induced magnetic field detected.
• Plumes of Water Vapor spotted by Hubble telescope over Europa's south pole.

Review Preparation for Next Class

• Study sections 11.2 (Titan and other moons of Saturn) and 11.3.
• Complete homework set 08 and begin homework set 09.