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.