Mercury and Venus

Mercury and Venus

by Jessica Iseman

Multiple Choice

Mercury's diameter - compared to Earth's moon - is

• larger than the Moon.

• comparable to the Moon.

• smaller than the Moon.

• not affected by the closeness of the Sun.

Multiple Choice

Mercury has a much larger ___ - compared to Earth's moon.

• polar ice cap

• or thicker crust

• core

• atmosphere

Multiple Choice

MESSENGER was the first space probe sent to Mercury to map its surface.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

This spacecraft was the first to visit Mercury & map just over half of its surface.

• Mariner

• MESSENGER

• Magellan

• Veneras

Multiple Choice

MESSENGER was the first space probe sent to Mercury to map its surface.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which planet closely matches Earth in size & composition?

• Venus

• Mercury

Multiple Choice

Venus' atmospheric temperature is even hotter (on average) than Mercury's.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Venus was visited by this series of space probes - returning actual pictures of the surface.

• Mariner

• Magellan

• Voyager

• Veneras

Multiple Choice

Why can't astronomers directly study the surface of Venus?

• the surface is just way too hot

• the surface is permanently obscured by thick clouds

• there is no surface of Venus

• too many active volcanoes

Multiple Choice

Today, all of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) on Venus is located almost entirely in the

• crust

• mantle

• atmosphere

• oceans