1. One planet, two planets, three planets, four! Comparing the terrestrial worlds

2. Looking to do research? Modeling astrophysical disks Work with LASP researcher Glen Stewart to develop and run numerical models of planetary rings and protoplanetary disks. Requirements: Interest in data modeling Knowledge of C (IDL, Python also preferred) Contact: Glen.Stewart@lasp.colorado.edu

3. A host of worlds, big and small

4. Why compare the planets? Understand the diversity of worlds Use knowledge of one to extend that of others Planets are cool

5. Four agents of change

6. Erosion Impacts Volcanism Tectonics

7. Peering deep with density BodyRadius (km)Mass / Mass of EarthDensity (kg/m^3) Mercury2439.70.0555427 Venus6051.90.815243 Earth6367.415515 Moon1737.50.0123934 Mars3386.00.113344 MaterialDensity (kg/m^3) Iron7874 Granite2600 Water1000

8. Peering deep with density

9. Map of Mercury

10. Radar map of Venus

11. Map of Earth

12. Map of the Moon

13. Map of Mars

14. The impact of impacts Impacts are vital to measuring ages in the solar system

15. The impact of impacts Even when ages are uncertain (usually!), craters reveal relative age of a surface Young Old

16. Water, water everywhere Mars Yemen

17. Lava flows are snapshots in time MarsHawaii

18. So are landslides… Mars Mexico

19. Envelopes of gas BodyAtmospheric density (bar) Primary constituents Mean temperature (K) Mercury10 -14 H, He, Na452 Venus92CO 2, N730 Earth1N, O287 Moon10 -14 Ar, He220 Mars0.006CO 2, Ar, N226 Titan1.5N, CH 4 94

20. Creating an atmosphere Ways to generate an atmosphere:

21. Creating an atmosphere Ways to generate an atmosphere: Primordial Outgassing Delivery of volatiles Life

22. Stripping an atmosphere Ways to lose an atmosphere:

23. Stripping an atmosphere Ways to lose an atmosphere: Escape to space All worlds Collapse to surface Stripped by solar wind Mercury Moon Mars

24. Moons are a planet’s best friend BodyMoonsMoon mass / planet mass Mercury0- Venus0- Earth10.012 Mars21.9x10 -8 Jupiter632.1x10 -4 Saturn612.5x10 -4 Uranus271x10 -4 Neptune142.1x10 -4 Pluto50.12

25. Putting it all together Planetary properties are the constraints for modeling solar system formation

26. What would you do? Question: If you could return a sample from one place in the solar system, where would you go? Body Feature type Justification