Chapter 24: The Solar System – Flashcards

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Solar System
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Made up of nine planets, including Earth, and many smaller objects that orbit the Sun
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Mercury
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The closest planet to the Sun. Second smallest planet. The surface has many craters and high cliffs. Planet has no atmosphere. Temperatures range from 425 degrees Celsius during the day to 170 degrees Celsius at night. This planet has no moons
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Venus
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The second from planet to the Sun. Similar to Earth in size and mass. Thick atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide. Droplets of sulfuric acid in its atmosphere gives the clouds a yellowish color. Surface has craters, fault like cracks, and volcanoes. Greenhouse effect causes surface temperature of 450 degrees Celsius to 475 degrees Celsius. Has no moons.
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Earth
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Third planet from to the Sun. Atmosphere protects the life. Surface temperatures allows water to exist as solids, liquids, and gas. The only planet where life is known to exist. Has one large moon.
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Mars
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The fourth planet from to the Sun. Surface appears reddish-yellow because of iron oxide in soil. Ice caps are made of frozen carbon dioxide and water. Channels indicate that water had flowed on the surface; has large volcanoes and valleys. Has a thin atmosphere composed of mostly carbon dioxide. Surface temperatures range from 125 degrees celsius to 35 degrees celsius. Huge dust storms blanket the planet. Has two small moons.
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Jupiter
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The fifth planet from to the Sun. The largest planet in the a Solar System. Has very faint rings. Atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium; continuous storms swirl on the planet, the largest is the Great Red Spot. Has four large moons and at least 57 smaller ones; one of its moons, Lo, has active volcanoes.
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Great Red Spot
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A giant storm about 25,000 km in size from east to west on the planet Jupiter
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Saturn
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Sixth planet from to the Sun. Thick atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium. Has a complex ring system. Has at les 31 moons the largest, Titan, is larger than Mercury.
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Uranus
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Seventh planet from the Sun. Large gaseous planet with thin, dark rings. Atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, helium, and methane. Axis of rotation is nearly parallel to plane of orbit. Has at least 21 moons.
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Neptune
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Eight planet from the Sun. Large gaseous planet with rings that vary in thickness. Is sometimes farther from the Sun than Pluto is. Methane atmosphere cause it's bluish-green color. Has dark colored storms in the atmosphere. Has at least 11 moons.
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Pluto
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The smallest planet and farthest from the Sun. Small,icy-rock planet with thin atmosphere. Single moon Charon that is half the planets diameter.
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Comet
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Is composed of dust and rock particles mixed with frozen water, methane, and ammonia
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Meteor
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A meteoroid that burns up in Earth asmosphere
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Meteorites
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Something that strikes Earth
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Asteroids
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A piece of rock similar to the material that formed into the planets
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