AST-1A Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Sulfur Dioxide, Orbital Period, Ecliptic
Document Summary
Second planet from the sun (67 million miles). Earth"s sister planet, similar is size mass and density. Called the morning star and evening star brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon. Retrograde rotation (rotates opposite direction of other planets) this is an indication. Very slow rotation of a massive impact in its history. Believe there are no tectonic plates because crust is too ductile from heat to break into plates. Sulfur dioxide decrease from 1978-1986 indicate recent volcanic activity. Pancake domes-from very viscous (thick) lava flows. Coronae (crowns) - large intrusive magma domes. Young surface do to lava flooding the surface. Extremely dense atmosphere 90 times denser than earth"s atmosphere. 1300 pounds per square inch of pressure compared to earth"s 14. 7 lbs. Trace amounts of carbon monoxide, water vaper and sulfur dioxide. Believed that venus was similar to a young earth with possible water (granite). The sun"s output increased and venus began to heat up.
