Exam 7: The Terrestrial Planets: a Study in Contrasts

The largest difference between Mars' northern and southern hemispheres is that

Mercury's surface most resembles which of these?

Which of these gets so bright as to be seen in daylight at times?

The giant Borealis basin around the Martian north pole may have formed due to an impact with an asteroid twice the size of Ceres.

Unlike our Moon and Mars, all the impact craters found on Venus are in size.

The scarps on Mercury were probably caused by

Contrast the atmosphere of Venus with its clouds.

As with the lunar mare and Earth's ocean basins, the chief rock in the low plains of Venus is .

In age, the surface of Venus is much than even the lunar mare.

Running water played a major role in shaping Mars in ancient times.

When are Mercury and Venus easiest to observe from Earth? Why? How much of then can we see at that time?

Our Moon and Mars both show very different hemispheres. Compare them and explain why this occurred in each case.

Mars is often called a "midway world," similar in some respects to Earth, and in others to our Moon. Explain.

The density of Mars is very similar to that of the other terrestrial planets.

The greatest rift valley system yet found is _ _ on Mars.

Why were the Russian Venera spacecraft so important to our understanding of Venus?

Hollows are peculiar pits found at the center of some craters on

Which of the following characterizes a shield volcano?

The ALH84001 meteorite, discovered in Antarctica, came from , and suggests it may once have had life.

The seasonal polar caps on Mars, which grow and shrink over the year, are primarily carbon dioxide.