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Q: A planet's ability to retain an atmosphere depends on what?
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Does the moon Mimas have an atmosphere?

No, Mimas does not have an atmosphere. It is a small, airless moon of Saturn with a very thin surface that lacks the ability to retain any substantial atmosphere.


What planet has many craters but no atmosphere?

There are probably a very great number of planets in our galaxy with no atmosphere. Of the 400+ planets that we know of, we can only determine the presence or absence of an atmosphere for the 8 planets in THIS solar system; our technology is not yet good enough to study atmospheres from several light-years distance. Of the planets of this solar system, we are fairly sure that Mercury has no atmosphere to speak of. Of the other seven, we know that Mars has a very thin atmosphere, but enough to use a parachute in. If we include dwarf planets, we can say with some certainty that Ceres doesn't have enough mass to retain an atmosphere, and Pluto's atmosphere is almost certainly all frozen by now.


Does the size of the planet affect its atmosphere?

Yes, the size of a planet can affect its atmosphere. Larger planets can hold onto gases more easily due to their stronger gravitational pull, leading to thicker atmospheres. Smaller planets may have thinner atmospheres or none at all if their gravity is too weak to retain gases.


What two planets are hottest and why?

The two hottest planets in our solar system are Venus and Mercury. Venus is the hottest due to its thick atmosphere that traps heat, creating a strong greenhouse effect. Mercury is the second hottest because of its proximity to the sun, although it has no atmosphere to retain the heat.


Why does the temperature drop a lot in other planets at night?

The temperature drop on other planets at night is due to the lack of sunlight to provide heat. Planets do not have the same atmosphere as Earth to trap heat, resulting in rapid cooling once the sun sets. Additionally, some planets, like Mars, have thin atmospheres that cannot retain heat well, leading to significant temperature fluctuations between day and night.

Related questions

What affect does gravity have on the planets?

The planets' own gravity has made them spherical. Also there are other effects such as their ability to retain an atmosphere, etc. The Sun's gravitycauses the orbits of the planets.


What property controls the quantity of atmosphere in planets?

The property that controls the quantity of atmosphere in planets is the planet's gravity. A planet's gravitational force is responsible for holding its atmosphere in place. The stronger the gravity, the more atmosphere a planet can retain. Conversely, lower gravity can result in a thinner or less substantial atmosphere.


Why do outer planets not lose their gas?

Outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn have strong gravitational fields that hold onto their abundant gas layers. Additionally, these planets are further away from the Sun where solar winds are weaker, reducing the loss of gas. The large mass of these planets also contributes to their ability to retain their gas atmosphere.


Does Kuiper Belt have a atmosphere?

No, the Kuiper Belt does not have an atmosphere. It is a region in space beyond Neptune where icy bodies and dwarf planets are found. These objects are too small to retain an atmosphere due to their low gravity.


Does the moon Mimas have an atmosphere?

No, Mimas does not have an atmosphere. It is a small, airless moon of Saturn with a very thin surface that lacks the ability to retain any substantial atmosphere.


What are the two main reason why Jovian planets have much thicker atmoshperes than the Terrestrial planets?

Jovian planets have thicker atmospheres compared to terrestrial planets because they have stronger gravitational fields, allowing them to retain lighter gases like hydrogen and helium. Additionally, Jovian planets formed further from the Sun where these lighter gases were more abundant, contributing to their thicker atmospheres.


How hot are dwarf planets?

Not to hot at all as they have no atmosphere to retain heat. It would be like being the vacuum of space. In fact, it actually is exactly like being in the vacuum of space!


What planet has many craters but no atmosphere?

There are probably a very great number of planets in our galaxy with no atmosphere. Of the 400+ planets that we know of, we can only determine the presence or absence of an atmosphere for the 8 planets in THIS solar system; our technology is not yet good enough to study atmospheres from several light-years distance. Of the planets of this solar system, we are fairly sure that Mercury has no atmosphere to speak of. Of the other seven, we know that Mars has a very thin atmosphere, but enough to use a parachute in. If we include dwarf planets, we can say with some certainty that Ceres doesn't have enough mass to retain an atmosphere, and Pluto's atmosphere is almost certainly all frozen by now.


Why is air thin on earth?

Planets generally retain an amount of atmosphere that their gravitation field can hold, against the tendency of a gas to leak away into outer space. Thus, the atmosphere of the Earth is denser than that of Mars, but thinner than that of Jupiter.


Does the size of the planet affect its atmosphere?

Yes, the size of a planet can affect its atmosphere. Larger planets can hold onto gases more easily due to their stronger gravitational pull, leading to thicker atmospheres. Smaller planets may have thinner atmospheres or none at all if their gravity is too weak to retain gases.


What two planets are hottest and why?

The two hottest planets in our solar system are Venus and Mercury. Venus is the hottest due to its thick atmosphere that traps heat, creating a strong greenhouse effect. Mercury is the second hottest because of its proximity to the sun, although it has no atmosphere to retain the heat.


Why the moon is colder?

No atmosphere to retain heat