1. Solar System

2.  Nebular Hypothesis: Solar System was produced by the gravitational collapse of a gas cloud – the remnant of a supernova explosion.  Concentration of heavy elements in inner planets.  Most of the mass of the Solar System is composed of H and He atoms.

3. Inner (Terrestrial) Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. Outer (Jovian) Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Pluto: former moon of Neptune. Asteroid belts: shattered remains of a proto-planet.

5.  Mars-sized (33% mass of Earth) impactor collided during the Hadean.  Isotopic signatures on Earth and Moon are very similar.  Earth’s gravity would not have been able to capture a mass as large (25% of Earth) as our moon.  The melting event triggered by the impact allowed Earth to differentiate into Crust, Mantle, and Core.

6.  Fe-rich core.  Silicate mantle and crust.  Differentiatio n makes possible plate tectonics and the magnetic field of the Earth.

7.  Volcanic outgassing formed Earth’s early atmosphere and hydrosphere (H, N, CO 2, H 2 O).  Comet impacts also added gases and water.  Note that the early atmosphere lacked oxygen (O 2 ).

8.  Haden Eon marked by bombardment of asteroids and comets.  Evolution of life was impossible until heavy bombardment ceased.  The cratered surface of the moon best records the Late Heavy Bombardment Period.

11.  Mars has more extreme topographic relief because of the lack of water erosion.  Olympus Mons: largest known volcano in the solar system (elev.=22 km; 14 miles).

12.  Mars rovers have provided a wealth of data about the planet.  Mars resembles Earth more than any other planet.

13.  Stream-cut channels dissect the topography.  Stratified and cross-bedded sediments.  Evaporite deposits.

14.  Precipitation of Hematite from evaporating lake.  Laterally continuous stratified beds.  Evaporite deposits of Halite and Gypsum.

15.  Know difference between inner and outer planets.  Be familiar with the Impactor hypothesis for the origin of the moon.  Know the lines of evidence that point to the past presence of liquid water on Mars.  Know why Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the solar system.  Know about the origin and early composition of Earth’s atmosphere.