Planetary Science

  1. Moons and Rings
    1. Formation of Moons
      1. Co-formation with Planets
        1. Capture Mechanisms
          1. Giant Impact Hypothesis
            1. Disk Accretion
            2. Major Moons of the Solar System
              1. Earth's Moon
                1. Formation Theories
                  1. Giant Impact Hypothesis
                    1. Co-formation Theory
                      1. Capture Theory
                      2. Geology and Surface Features
                        1. Maria and Highlands
                          1. Impact Basins
                            1. Regolith
                              1. Volcanic History
                            2. Galilean Moons of Jupiter
                              1. Io
                                1. Volcanic Activity
                                  1. Tidal Heating
                                    1. Surface Composition
                                      1. Sulfur Compounds
                                      2. Europa
                                        1. Subsurface Ocean
                                          1. Surface Ice and Fractures
                                            1. Potential for Life
                                              1. Tidal Flexing
                                              2. Ganymede
                                                1. Intrinsic Magnetic Field
                                                  1. Differentiated Interior
                                                    1. Surface Grooves and Ice
                                                      1. Largest Moon
                                                      2. Callisto
                                                        1. Ancient Cratered Surface
                                                          1. Subsurface Ocean Evidence
                                                            1. Low Density
                                                          2. Titan
                                                            1. Thick Nitrogen Atmosphere
                                                              1. Methane Cycle and Surface Liquids
                                                                1. Lakes and Seas
                                                                  1. Methane Rain
                                                                    1. Seasonal Changes
                                                                    2. Surface Geology
                                                                      1. Dunes
                                                                        1. Mountains
                                                                          1. Impact Craters
                                                                        2. Triton
                                                                          1. Retrograde Orbit
                                                                            1. Cryovolcanism
                                                                              1. Surface Features
                                                                                1. Captured Kuiper Belt Object
                                                                              2. Planetary Ring Systems
                                                                                1. Composition and Particle Size
                                                                                  1. Ice and Rock Particles
                                                                                    1. Size Distribution
                                                                                      1. Density Variations
                                                                                      2. Formation and Evolution
                                                                                        1. Origin Theories
                                                                                          1. Disrupted Moons
                                                                                            1. Primordial Material
                                                                                            2. Lifespan of Rings
                                                                                              1. Ring Spreading
                                                                                              2. Ring-Moon Interactions
                                                                                                1. Shepherd Moons
                                                                                                  1. Orbital Resonances
                                                                                                    1. Gravitational Perturbations
                                                                                                    2. Structures within Rings
                                                                                                      1. Gaps
                                                                                                        1. Cassini Division
                                                                                                          1. Encke Gap
                                                                                                          2. Spokes and Waves
                                                                                                            1. Density Waves

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                                                                                                        4. The Giant Planets

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                                                                                                        6. Small Solar System Bodies