ASTR 103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Caloris Planitia, Astrophotography, Gilbert Levin
29 Jul 2018
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Chapter 7 - the other terrestrial planets and their comparisons to earth. Mercury: earth-based optical observations of mercury are difficult, at its greatest eastern and western elongation, mercury is never more than 28 degrees from the sun. If mercury were in a circular orbit, its long axis would always point toward the sun: It is adjusting its flight path for an ultimate orbit of mercury: 3 flybys to date, will achieve orbit in 2011, heavily cratered surface, gently rolling plains, scarps. Venus: at its greatest eastern and western elongations, venus is about 47 degrees from the sun, the surface of venus is hidden beneath a thick, highly reflective cloud cover. It can be seen for several hours after sunset or before sunrise: venus is similar to the earth in its size, mass, average density, and surface gravity. It is covered by unbroken, highly reflective clouds that conceal its other features from earth-based observers.
