Astronomy Unit 1 Quiz 2

Mercury is the smallest planet among the given options. It has a diameter of about 4,879 kilometers, making it slightly smaller than Mars and significantly smaller than Earth and Venus. Its small size is attributed to its close proximity to the Sun, which resulted in the loss of its outer layers due to intense heat and solar winds.

Europa is believed to be the most likely moon of Jupiter to have life. This is because it has a subsurface ocean of liquid water, which is considered a key ingredient for the possibility of life. The ocean is kept warm by tidal forces from Jupiter's gravity, and it is thought to have a rocky seafloor that could provide the necessary chemical reactions for life to exist. Additionally, Europa has a thin icy crust that may protect the ocean from harmful radiation. These factors make Europa a promising candidate for the presence of life in our solar system.

The moons Deimos and Phobos belong to Mars. Both Deimos and Phobos are natural satellites that orbit around Mars. Mars is one of the four inner planets in our solar system, along with Earth, Mercury, and Venus. Therefore, the correct answer is Mars.

Mars has the largest canyon and mountains among the inner planets. This is because Mars is known for its enormous canyon called Valles Marineris, which is about 4,000 kilometers long and up to 7 kilometers deep. Additionally, Mars has the highest mountain in the solar system called Olympus Mons, which stands at a height of about 22 kilometers. Earth, Mercury, and Venus also have canyons and mountains, but they are not as large or impressive as those found on Mars.

An extrasolar planet refers to a planet that is orbiting a star other than our Sun. This means that it is outside of our solar system and is part of another star system.