The Terrestrial planets encompass the four closest planets to the Sun that have rocky surfaces. They have plenty of similarities, but are in no shortage of differences as well. So how do Earth, Mars, Mercury, and Venus compare and contrast? Firstly, these are all, as mentioned before, terrestrial planets. This word derives from the Latin phrasing “Terra” which translates to Earth. They are named this because they are chemically composed the same way. For instance, where once it was thought that foreign materials or compositions would be found on other planets, contemporary science has proven the opposite. These terrestrial planets are abundant with similar minerals and rock types. Another unifying principle between these planets is their heat influenced geology. Each terrestrial planet has an internal heat or “core” that formed due to gravitational potential energy and radioactive decay of heavy elements. These planets, do however, have differing atmospheres. Mercury having no atmosphere, Venus having an extremely thick atmosphere, Mars having a very thin atmosphere, and Earth, of course, contains the atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen that we all love. Secondly, there is Mercury. Mercury is the smallest planet of not just the terrestrial planets, but all the planets (sorry Pluto). Mercury is a planet of extremes. …show more content…
Well, I think the most important thing to take away from this can be seen in both Venus and Mars. Venus, as mentioned, is a scary place, and a place that eerily mirrors a possible climate change for Earth’s future. With that in mind, I believe the idea of Mars containing some semblance of life sustaining property is the most important thing gathered in our search through the planets. Already companies like SpaceX and organizations like NASA are pioneering this cataclysmic journey in the red planet, and it serves as a bastion of hope for the future of