The Terrestrial Planets: Impacts and Origins
- Sunday January 31, 2021
- 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm EST
- Dr. Rachel L. Smith
- NC Museum of Natural Sciences/Appalachian State University
- Audience: Teenagers and Adults
Join a virtual journey into the solar system as we explore the terrestrial planets and our small rocky neighbors — the asteroids and comets! Using exciting interactive software called OpenSpace, Rachel will discuss how these relics from our early origins have impacted planets and life for billions of years, and continue to shape worlds and missions beyond Earth.
An ancient shoreline inside the Jezero impact crater, the landing site for the Mars 2020 mission, which will search for signs of past life on Mars. Red streaks above the horizon are the locations of several of the Mars-crossing asteroids. Image taken with OpenSpace (Credit: R. Smith). Click to enlarge.
