Exploring Our Solar System and Beyond

What makes Earth uniquely capable of supporting life?

• Its proximity to the Sun

• Its large moons

• The presence of liquid water and a stable atmosphere

• The abundance of carbon

What will happen to Earth as the Sun becomes a red giant?

• It will escape into outer space

• It will freeze over

• It will be engulfed by the Sun

• It will become more habitable

What will likely cause the end of complex life on Earth in the future?

• A collision with another planet

• A sudden freeze over

• An invasion by extraterrestrial life

• The Sun's transformation into a red giant

Why does Uranus have such a unique axis orientation?

• Gravitational pull from its moons

• A collision with an Earth-sized object

• It was formed that way

• It's a natural occurrence in gas giants

What is unique about Uranus's rings?

• They are made of gas

• They are invisible

• They orbit vertically

• They are completely solid

What drives the weather systems on Saturn?

• Solar energy

• Internal heat source

• Magnetic field interactions

• Cosmic radiation

What evidence suggests Mars once had conditions suitable for life?

• Active volcanoes

• High levels of methane in the atmosphere

• Deposits formed from minerals in hydrothermal environments

• Presence of large canyons

What causes Neptune's intense winds?

• Internal heat and lack of solid surface

• Magnetic field interactions

• Solar radiation

• Its large size

What was a significant finding of the MESSENGER mission to Mercury?

• Evidence of water ice

• Presence of an atmosphere

• Signs of biological activity

• Volatile elements on its surface

What is the main reason Earth has retained its atmosphere?

• Thick crust

• Large size

• Presence of oceans

• Its magnetic field