Kortenkamp Planetary Science

Blank Standard Sheet: PDF Format

Standard 1: What makes something a planet?  Give examples of planets and non-planets citing reasons why each is considered a planet or not.

Standard 2: What is Spectroscopy and how do planetary scientists use it to learn information about objects in space?

Standard 3:  What is the difference between Terrestrial and Jovian planets?  What scientific principles are behind the order of the solar system?

Standard 4:  What causes the seasons on Earth and how/why do these seasons change over many thousands of years?

Standard 5:  Phases of the Moon

Standard 6: How is Earth's past climate studied and what are these findings telling us about how our climate is changing?

Standard 7:  What creates a planetary magnetic field and how is Earth's measured?  Also indicate what warning signs we have that Earth's magnetic field is nearing a reversal.

Standard 8:  Describe the similarities between the atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars.  What evidence do we have from planetary exploration describing Mars' past?  What is the leading theory as to what happened to Mars to leave it as it is today?

Standard 9: Describe the unique features of the outer moons of the solar system and compare how their location both relative to the Sun and relative to their parent planet determines key characteristics.

Standard 10: Describe what causes a meteor shower and when you can expect meteor showers to be particularly brilliant.