The Geological Features Of Mercury

Assignment 2 1. At first glance, the Moon and Mercury have similar surface features yet on closer inspection we find that significant differences exist. Compare and contrast the surfaces of the two bodies and outline their respective geological histories. The geology of the moon and mercury are very similar due to certain key aspects, but there are also a few qualities that differentiate the two bodies. The Moon has a radius of 1738km in comparison with Mercury, the smallest of the major planets with

smooth plains, many a consequence of volcanic floods and pyroclastic deposits. Other important features of Mercury include vents which seem to be the cause of magma-carved valleys. They are often grouped togther in irregular-shaped depressions called "hollows" that are believed to be the aftermath of collapsed magma chambers, and mineral deposits inside craters at the poles. It was long thought that Mercury was geologically inactive however new evidence tells us there may be some level of life. The

The first planet after the Sun, Mercury, has very similar geological features with the Earth's moon. Its surface is covered with varying sizes of craters which was used by scientists to determine the planet's age. It is said that these craters are the "scars" from asteroid and comets during the Late Heavy Bombardment Period. Measuring 1550km, the Caloris Basin is the largest crater in Mercury's surface and 14 other large crater basins were found. Although it has been identified that Mercury's surface

Earth is the third planet from the Sun [the third ''rock'' from the Sun], and is the only planet currently known to support forms of life, be that animal, plant, or humans. Earth's atmosphere is similar to that of its sister planet, Venus. It also features large bodies of water - at least 71 percent of Earth is covered in water, and of that 71 percent, 97 percent of it is salt water, while the rest is glacier ice and fresh water. To date, approximately 5 percent of the Earth's oceans have been explored

One of the most fundamental questions in science currently is whether we are alone in the universe. All the terrestrial planets, such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, show evidence of volcanic activities in their past.1,2 Mars is the only location where budgetary and technological constraints permit access and is also considered as having had the most likely planet for sustaining life.1–5 The surface conditions of Mars presently appear hostile to life,6 and thus we rely on evidence that the planet

Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system, and is one of four terrestrial planets that includes Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Mars began its formation 4.6 billion years ago, along with the rest of the solar system. On the surface of Mars, there are large channels that appear to have been carved out by flowing water. Although nothing is certain, there is overwhelming support for the idea that Mars did in fact have flowing water on its surface. There is strong evidence to prove this, hence

the sky. Over the course of time the tidal effects have become not as strong as they were before. This may have also had some important geological effects that are keeping the Earths magma hot and creating additional convection for the Earths mantle. As I said earlier the multitude of dark basins on the Moon are

Jupiter is blanketed in thick red, brown, yellow and white clouds. These clouds are what gives Jupiter's the look like it has stripes. Jupiter is extremely windy, with wind gusts ranging from 310km/h to 640km/h. One of Jupiter's more well known features is its Giant Red Spot, which is located in its southern hemisphere. The spot is

Mercury: The element mercury has the chemical symbol Hg; it is a silver colour and is a liquid at room temperature. Mercury has a high density and surface tension and can easily break up into small droplets. Mercury can dissolve some metals resulting in amalgams, metal alloys of mercury. It is not soluble in water or most other liquids, but will dissolve in lipids (fats and oils). With fluctuations in temperature, mercury expands and contracts evenly with these changes and is classed as a non-combustible

Plate tectonics occur not only just on Earth, but on other planets in the galaxy as well, such as Venus, Mars, and ancient Mercury. Since there are several planets in the Milky Way that have plate tectonics, it is questionable about if size is a key factor in the likelihood of tectonics on foreign planets. Vol-canoes, mountains, ocean ridges, earthquakes, and tsunamis all would not be possible without the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates. Dependent upon heat for movement, tectonic plates are