Mars is a cold desert planet with a thin, dry carbon-dioxide atmosphere.
The geology of Mars, however, shows signs of an active past, with
hot-spot volcanism, and tantalizing signs of ancient water flows. While
a cold, dead desert planet today, Mars' past may have been warmer and
wetter, with liquid water during the first third of its history. This
lectur ... Show More
Nov 2007
Lecture 34: Venus Unveiled
Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is perpetually veiled behind
opaque clouds of sulfuric acid droplets atop a hot, heavy, carbon
dioxide atmosphere. In size and apparent composition, however, it is a
near twin-sister of the Earth. Why is it do different? In this lecture
I re ... Show More
41m 46s
Nov 2007
Lecture 33: Battered Mercury
Mercury, innermost of the planets, is a hot, dead world that has been
heavily battered by impacts. In this lecture I review the properties of
Mercury, its orbit, rotation, surface, and interior structure. Recorded
2007 Nov 7 in 1000 McPherson Lab on the Columbus campus of The Ohi ... Show More
40m 38s