terrestrial planet

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terrestrial planet

terrestrial planet the earth or a planet that resembles the earth in its physical characteristics. The terrestrial planets in the solar system are the earth , Mercury , Venus , and Mars . These planets are approximately the same size, with the earth the largest. They are considerably denser than the Jovian planets , ranging from a specific gravity of 4 for Mars to 5.5 for the earth. Because they spin less rapidly than the Jovian planets, the terrestrial planets are less flattened at their poles.

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terrestrial planet

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Â© A Dictionary of Astronomy 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

terrestrial planet A small, high-density planet with a solid, rocky surface. In the Solar System, the terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

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terrestrial planet

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Â© A Dictionary of Earth Sciences 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

terrestrial planet (inner planet) The term used to classify the four inner, rocky Earth-like planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) of the solar system, which, relative to the jovian (or outer) planets are smaller, have high densities, are composed of metallic (mainly iron) and silicate phases, and have low contents of gaseous elements.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "terrestrial planet." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "terrestrial planet." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (November 28, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-terrestrialplanet.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "terrestrial planet." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved November 28, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-terrestrialplanet.html

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