Why has NASA sent recent orbiters to Mars on trajectories that required them to skim through Mars’s atmosphere before settling into their final orbits?
Why has NASA sent recent orbiters to Mars on trajectories that required them to skim through Mars's atmosphere before settling into their final orbits? It saves money because the spacecraft uses atmospheric drag to slow down rather than needing to carry enough fuel to slow by firing rocket engines.
Which planet listed has the most extreme seasons?
Uranus has bizarre seasons, in contrast to Earth and the other major planets in this solar system. It's because Uranus' spin axis is extremely tilted with respect to its orbit around the sun.
Which planet besides Earth has been visited by the largest number of robotic spacecraft?
Astronomy Midterm
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| The Cassini mission to Saturn consists of: | An orbiter that orbits Saturn and a probe that descended to the surface of Titan. |
| Which planet (besides Earth) has been visited by the largest number of robotic spacecraft? | Mars |
In which of the following ways do Pluto and Eris differ from the terrestrial and jovian planets in our solar system?
The dwarf planet Eris was discovered in 2005, orbiting the Sun at an average distance about twice that of Pluto. In which of the following ways do Pluto and Eris differ from the terrestrial and jovian planets in our solar system? Both Pluto and Eris are smaller than any of the terrestrial planets.
Which of these upcoming observations will help test the idea that Mars atmosphere thinned due to interactions with the solar wind?
Which of these upcoming observations will help test the idea that Mars' atmosphere thinned due to interactions with the solar wind? The upcoming MAVEN orbiter will measure present-day gas loss from Mars' atmosphere.
Which of the following best explains why we can rule out the idea that planets are usually formed by near collisions between stars?
Which of the following best explains why we can rule out the idea that planets are usually formed by near-collisions between stars? Stellar near-collisions are far too rare to explain all the planets now known to orbit nearby stars.
Why was it advantageous for the Voyager mission to consist of flybys rather than orbiters quizlet?
Why was it advantageous for the Voyager mission to consist of flybys rather than orbiters? It was easier for data to be radioed back to Earth with flybys than orbiters. Each individual spacecraft was able to visit more than one planet. Spacecraft making flybys can return to Earth more quickly than orbiters.
What planet has no seasons?
Mercury Mercury is also the only planet in our solar system without any tilt, so technically lacks seasons. But what it does have is a highly elliptical orbit, creating a version of summer and winter.
Which planet has never been visited by a spacecraft?
Uranus has always been left out when it comes to missions to our near neighbours. But now there are serious attempts to visit this toxic gas giant, writes Richard Hollingham.
Which planet could an astronaut visit without the need for a spacesuit and survive?
Which planet could an astronaut visit without the need for a spacesuit (and survive)? None; an astronaut would need a spacesuit to survive a visit to any other planet in the solar system. None; an astronaut would need a spacesuit to survive a visit to any other planet in the solar system.
Why do the giant planets and their moons have compositions different from those of the terrestrial planets?
Why do the giant planets and their moons have compositions different from those of the terrestrial planets? The high temperatures of the inner solar system did not allow for condensation of the volatile materials found in the outer solar system.
In which of the following ways is io unique among the Galilean moons group of answer choices?
In which of the following ways is Io unique among the Galilean moons? It has a very high concentration of volcanoes. The spectrum of an exoplanet reveals significant amounts of methane with smaller amounts of ammonia.
Which of the following has given us the best estimate for the age of the solar system?
Which of the following has given us the best estimate for the age of the solar system? Radiodating the oldest meteorites. What do meteorites reveal about the solar system? They reveal that the age of the solar system is approximately 4.6 billion years.
Is Mars still losing its atmosphere?
Based on spaceborne investigator, NASA found that the solar wind still affects Mars. The destruction of the Martian atmosphere is still continuing, even though the atmosphere on Mars is very thin. A magnetic field can protect a planet against the lethal effect of the solar wind.
When the universe was very first formed it consisted entirely of which of the following?
About 2% of our solar nebula consisted of elements besides hydrogen and helium. However, the very first generation of star systems in the universe probably consisted only of hydrogen and helium.
Which planet could an astronaut visit without the need for a spacesuit and survive )?
Which planet could an astronaut visit without the need for a spacesuit (and survive)? None; an astronaut would need a spacesuit to survive a visit to any other planet in the solar system. None; an astronaut would need a spacesuit to survive a visit to any other planet in the solar system.
Why would it not be a good idea to send a lander to one of the Jovian planets quizlet?
Why would it not be a good idea to send a lander to one of the jovian planets? The jovian planets have no solid surface to land on.
What planet takes 7 years to get to?
Saturn FAQ – Spacecraft
| Spacecraft | Target | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Messenger | Mercury | 6.5 years |
| Cassini | Saturn | 7 years |
| Voyager 1 & 2 | Jupiter; Saturn; Uranus; Neptune | 13,23 months; 3,4 years; 8.5 years; 12 years |
| New Horizons | Pluto | 9.5 years |
What is the hottest planet?
Venus It has a strong greenhouse effect, similar to the one we experience on Earth. Because of this, Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
Does it rain diamonds on Uranus?
The postdoctoral research at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explained that the high amount of methane in both Uranus and Neptune is the key factor why it rains diamonds on the two planets.
What if you fell into Mercury?
2:235:56What Happens If You FALL Into Planet MERCURY? – YouTubeYouTube
How long would a human survive on Mars without a spacesuit?
Meanwhile, Mars has almost no oxygen; it's only one-tenth of one percent of the air, not nearly enough for humans to survive. If you tried to breathe on the surface of Mars without a spacesuit supplying your oxygen – bad idea – you would die in an instant.
Which planet can humans survive on?
Then, just last year, scientists discovered another Earth-like planet orbiting one of our closest neighboring stars, Proxima Centauri. Currently, this planet is the best candidate we have for supporting human life.
What are the moons of the outer planets made of and how is their composition different from that of our Moon?
The moons of the outer planets consist of a mixture of ice and rock, whereas our Moon is just rock.
What is the major difference in the composition of the inner planets and of the outer planets?
The four inner planets have shorter orbits, slower spin, no rings, and they are made of rock and metal. The four outer planets have longer orbits and spins, a composition of gases and liquids, numerous moons, and rings. The outer planets are made of hydrogen and helium, so they are called gas giants.
Why is Io so much more geologically active than the other Galilean moons?
Io is in a gravitational tug-of-war with Ganymede and Europa that drives the tides that make these moons so geologically active.
Why are the Galilean moons important?
Today, Jupiter's four largest satellites—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—are named the Galilean Moons in honor of their discoverer. Galileo's discovery provided evidence for the Copernican understanding of the universe. This was the idea that everything in existence did not, indeed, move around Earth.
Why do astronomers think the Earth ended up with so little CO2 compared with Mars and Venus?
Why do astronomers think the Earth ended up with so little CO2 compared with Mars and Venus? The Martian atmosphere is too cold and has too low a pressure for liquid water.
What are the methods used to estimate the age of the solar system?
By studying several things, mostly meteorites, and using radioactive dating techniques, specifically looking at daughter isotopes, scientists have determined that the Solar System is 4.6 billion years old.
Why is Mars red?
Well, a lot of rocks on Mars are full of iron, and when they're exposed to the great outdoors, they 'oxidize' and turn reddish – the same way an old bike left out in the yard gets all rusty. When rusty dust from those rocks gets kicked up in the atmosphere, it makes the martian sky look pink.