Comparative Planetology
What does a good theory of the formation of the Solar System have to explain?
Nearly circular
Coplanar
Prograde revolution, including most moons
Prograde rotation, including Sun except Venus, Uranus
1. The planetary
orbits
The data what trends do you see?
2. The differences
and similarities of the planets
Debris the asteroids and comets
Asteroid belt Kuiper belt and Oort cloud
3. Properties of asteroids and comets
Orbits: Mercury
Tilt: Uranus
Rotation: Venus, Uranus
Many dwarf planets and other objects are exceptions
Pluto and other KBO's have titled orbits, retrograde rotation
Some comets have retrograde revolution
The quick tour
Sun Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
En route
