Planetary Science

  1. The Terrestrial Planets
    1. Common Characteristics of Terrestrial Planets
      1. Rocky Composition
        1. Differentiated Interiors
          1. Thin or Absent Atmospheres
            1. Surface Geology
              1. Relatively Small Size
              2. Mercury
                1. Orbital Characteristics and Spin-Orbit Resonance
                  1. 3:2 Spin-Orbit Resonance
                    1. Orbital Eccentricity
                      1. Perihelion Precession
                      2. Surface Features and Cratering
                        1. Impact Basins
                          1. Caloris Basin
                            1. Other Major Basins
                            2. Scarps and Ridges
                              1. Smooth Plains
                              2. Composition and High Density
                                1. Large Iron Core
                                  1. Surface Composition
                                    1. Core-to-Planet Ratio
                                    2. Tenuous Exosphere
                                      1. Source of Exospheric Gases
                                        1. Surface-Space Interactions
                                          1. Seasonal Variations
                                          2. Magnetic Field
                                            1. Weak Magnetosphere
                                              1. Origin and Structure
                                                1. Interaction with Solar Wind
                                              2. Venus
                                                1. Dense Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere
                                                  1. Atmospheric Pressure
                                                    1. Cloud Layers
                                                      1. Sulfuric Acid Clouds
                                                        1. Cloud Deck Structure
                                                      2. Runaway Greenhouse Effect
                                                        1. Surface Temperature
                                                          1. Greenhouse Gases
                                                            1. Heat Retention
                                                            2. Surface Geology and Volcanism
                                                              1. Volcanic Plains
                                                                1. Large Shield Volcanoes
                                                                  1. Tectonic Features
                                                                    1. Coronae
                                                                      1. Tesserae
                                                                        1. Rift Valleys
                                                                      2. Retrograde Rotation
                                                                        1. Rotation Period
                                                                          1. Implications for Climate
                                                                            1. Possible Causes
                                                                          2. Earth
                                                                            1. Unique Geological Activity
                                                                              1. Plate Tectonics
                                                                                1. Plate Boundaries
                                                                                  1. Earthquakes and Volcanoes
                                                                                    1. Continental Drift
                                                                                  2. Hydrosphere and the Water Cycle
                                                                                    1. Oceans
                                                                                      1. Lakes and Rivers
                                                                                        1. Water Cycle Processes
                                                                                          1. Evaporation
                                                                                            1. Precipitation
                                                                                              1. Circulation
                                                                                            2. Oxygen-Rich Atmosphere
                                                                                              1. Atmospheric Layers
                                                                                                1. Troposphere
                                                                                                  1. Stratosphere
                                                                                                    1. Mesosphere
                                                                                                      1. Thermosphere
                                                                                                      2. Role of Photosynthesis
                                                                                                      3. Biosphere and its Influence
                                                                                                        1. Life-Surface Interactions
                                                                                                          1. Biogeochemical Cycles
                                                                                                            1. Carbon Cycle
                                                                                                              1. Nitrogen Cycle
                                                                                                                1. Oxygen Cycle
                                                                                                              2. Large Moon
                                                                                                                1. Formation and Evolution
                                                                                                                  1. Tidal Effects
                                                                                                                    1. Orbital Evolution
                                                                                                                  2. Mars
                                                                                                                    1. Thin Atmosphere
                                                                                                                      1. Composition
                                                                                                                        1. Carbon Dioxide
                                                                                                                          1. Trace Gases
                                                                                                                          2. Atmospheric Loss
                                                                                                                            1. Seasonal Variations
                                                                                                                            2. Polar Ice Caps
                                                                                                                              1. Seasonal Changes
                                                                                                                                1. Composition
                                                                                                                                  1. Water Ice
                                                                                                                                    1. Carbon Dioxide Ice
                                                                                                                                  2. Evidence of Past Water
                                                                                                                                    1. Valley Networks
                                                                                                                                      1. Ancient Lakebeds
                                                                                                                                        1. Hydrated Minerals
                                                                                                                                          1. Outflow Channels
                                                                                                                                          2. Major Geological Features
                                                                                                                                            1. Valles Marineris
                                                                                                                                              1. Olympus Mons
                                                                                                                                                1. Tharsis Region
                                                                                                                                                  1. Impact Basins
                                                                                                                                                  2. Dust Storms and Weather
                                                                                                                                                    1. Global Dust Storms
                                                                                                                                                      1. Seasonal Variations
                                                                                                                                                        1. Atmospheric Dynamics

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                                                                                                                                                    2. The Solar System Formation and Architecture

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                                                                                                                                                    4. The Giant Planets