Compare Planetary Properties: Mass, Composition, Density +more

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    Planetary Properties
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around comparing the properties of planets in the solar system, including mass, composition, density, and other characteristics. Participants also express interest in the histories and evolution of Venus, Earth, and Mars, exploring similarities and differences among these planets.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests a comprehensive source for planetary properties, including various metrics such as mass, density, and atmosphere.
  • Several participants provide links to resources that contain the requested planetary data, including websites and Wikipedia.
  • There is some uncertainty about the accuracy of the links shared, with participants questioning and correcting each other regarding the validity of the sources.
  • A later participant shifts the focus to the histories and evolution of Venus, Earth, and Mars, outlining preliminary ideas about their geological and atmospheric developments.
  • Specific historical claims are made about Venus's atmosphere and geological activity, Earth's atmospheric evolution, and Mars's past conditions, but these claims are presented without consensus or resolution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for resources to compare planetary properties, but there are multiple competing views regarding the accuracy of the links provided. The discussion about the histories of Venus, Earth, and Mars remains unresolved, with various hypotheses presented without consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about planetary histories depend on specific assumptions and interpretations of geological data, which are not universally accepted. The discussion does not resolve the uncertainties surrounding these historical narratives.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in planetary science, comparative planetology, and the geological evolution of terrestrial planets.

StephenPrivitera
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Can anyone provide a link or document that compares the properties of the planets? I'm interested in all of the following: mass, composition, density, obliquity, orbital eccentricity, semimajor axis, atmosphere, magnetic field, #satellites, internal heating. I'm also interested in the relevant properties of the Earth's moon, but it wouldn't be such a big deal to look those up. I just don't want to have to look these properties up for each planet. I was hoping someone had a quick link on hand. Thanks a lot if you can help!
 
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Sure, http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/windows3.html has all the info you were looking for. Just sellect a planet and click on "Planetary Facts".
 
Last edited by a moderator:
This site has a lot of data in sets of tables, easily copied and pasted into other apps:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021016.html
It may not have all that you are looking for, but there are plenty of links to other sites.
 
Originally posted by Nereid
This site has a lot of data in sets of tables, easily copied and pasted into other apps:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021016.html
It may not have all that you are looking for, but there are plenty of links to other sites.
Are you sure that's the right link?
 
Originally posted by StephenPrivitera
Are you sure that's the right link?
Doesn't look like it. You can link around from here:
http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/nineplanets.html#toc
Homepage for:
http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/data.html
http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/data1.html
and others to find about all you need.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ah excellent
thank you all very much
 
Hi again. Your links were all very helpful. I am now interested in information about the histories and evolution of Venus, Earth and Mars and how they are similar/different. I've done about a million google searches. There doesn't seem to be much. Here's what I have so far. If you can contribute, great!

History Venus
– Possible collision to explain tilt; resurfaced ~1By ago by lava flows, suggests liquid mantle, may have caused core to solidify (lava flows releases lots of heat), probably initially had atmosphere similar to earth’s but water lost due to evaporation and dissociation by UV rays, present atmosphere attributed to volcanic outgasing, CO2 accumulated in atmosphere without any water to dissolve into, runaway greenhouse effect,

History Earth
– collision to form moon, initial atmosphere much like Venus’, CO2 dissolved into ocean water and became incorporated into rocks, CO2 further reduced by plants,

History Mars
– early atmosphere thicker, warmer, possibly allowing for liquid water on surface, some parts of surface very young, indicates recent lava flows, crater erosion indicates water flows, has lost lighter elements in atmosphere due to low g
 

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