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The planets with the least substantial atmospheres are Mercury and Mars. Mercury has a very thin atmosphere composed mostly of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, and helium, practically negligible due to its proximity to the Sun and lack of gravity to retain gases. Mars has a thin atmosphere primarily made up of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon, but it is about 100 times less dense than Earth's atmosphere, making it insufficient to support liquid water on its surface.

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Does a dwarf planet have an atmosphere?

Some dwarf planets, like Pluto, have thin atmospheres composed mainly of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide. However, the atmospheres of dwarf planets are not as substantial as those of larger planets like Earth or Jupiter.


What four inner planets has almost no atmosphere?

The four inner planets, also known as the terrestrial planets, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Among them, Mercury has almost no atmosphere due to its small size and proximity to the Sun, which causes any gases to escape easily. Mars has a thin atmosphere, primarily composed of carbon dioxide, but it is much less substantial than Earth's. Venus has a thick atmosphere, so it does not fit the criteria of having almost no atmosphere.


How much more massive or larger would Mercury planet need to be in order to maintain and hold an atmosphere?

Mercury would need to be at least 1.2 times more massive to hold onto an atmosphere. The lack of a substantial atmosphere on Mercury is due to its low gravity, making it unable to retain gases for an extended period. Increasing its mass would help it to have enough gravitational pull to hold onto an atmosphere.


Would meteorology be useful science to apply to the study of planets such as Mars and Mercury?

Meteorology would be useful on Mars but not on Mercury. Mercury does not have a substantial atmosphere and therefore has no weather to speak of. Mars has enough of an atmosphere to produce weather such as dust storms.


Why some planets moons have atmospheres and others don't?

All of the planets except for Mercury have substantial atmospheres. Mercury is the least massive of the planets and has the weakest gravity, which makes it hard to hold on to gasses. It is also the closest planet to the sun, and the intense heat will tend to drive away any gasses that would collect around the planet. The moons of the solar system all have weaker gravity than Mercury does, so most are unable to hold onto an atmosphere. Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is the only moon in the solar system to have a substantial atmosphere. While it has weaker gravity than Mercury it is much farther from the sun and much colder, which makes it harder for gasses to escape. Other large moons, even cold ones may lack atmosphere for a few reasons that could have to do with the compositions of the moons or events in the past that may have driven an atmosphere away.

Related Questions

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.


Does a dwarf planet have an atmosphere?

Some dwarf planets, like Pluto, have thin atmospheres composed mainly of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide. However, the atmospheres of dwarf planets are not as substantial as those of larger planets like Earth or Jupiter.


Does mercury have a substantial atmosphere?

No, it does not.


Which planets moon has a substatial atmosphere?

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has a substantial atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen with traces of methane. This atmosphere is much denser than Earth's and forms a thick, hazy layer that shrouds the moon's surface.


How much more massive or larger would Mercury planet need to be in order to maintain and hold an atmosphere?

Mercury would need to be at least 1.2 times more massive to hold onto an atmosphere. The lack of a substantial atmosphere on Mercury is due to its low gravity, making it unable to retain gases for an extended period. Increasing its mass would help it to have enough gravitational pull to hold onto an atmosphere.


What is the only moon in the solar system believed to have a substantial atmosphere?

Titan - a moon of Saturn - has a substantial atmosphere comprised of mainly nitrogen.


Which moon in our solar system has the most substantial atmosphere?

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has the most substantial atmosphere in our solar system.


Would meteorology be useful science to apply to the study of planets such as Mars and Mercury?

Meteorology would be useful on Mars but not on Mercury. Mercury does not have a substantial atmosphere and therefore has no weather to speak of. Mars has enough of an atmosphere to produce weather such as dust storms.


Would meteorology be useful science to Apply to the study of planets such as mercury and Mars?

Meteorology would be useful on Mars but not on Mercury. Mercury does not have a substantial atmosphere and therefore has no weather to speak of. Mars has enough of an atmosphere to produce weather such as dust storms.


Why some planets moons have atmospheres and others don't?

All of the planets except for Mercury have substantial atmospheres. Mercury is the least massive of the planets and has the weakest gravity, which makes it hard to hold on to gasses. It is also the closest planet to the sun, and the intense heat will tend to drive away any gasses that would collect around the planet. The moons of the solar system all have weaker gravity than Mercury does, so most are unable to hold onto an atmosphere. Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is the only moon in the solar system to have a substantial atmosphere. While it has weaker gravity than Mercury it is much farther from the sun and much colder, which makes it harder for gasses to escape. Other large moons, even cold ones may lack atmosphere for a few reasons that could have to do with the compositions of the moons or events in the past that may have driven an atmosphere away.


Which planet has no true atmosphere?

Mercury. Its close orbit to the Sun causes extreme temperature variances and prevents it from maintaining any substantial gaseous atmosphere.


What type of atmosphere do jovian planets have?

The atmosphere gets thicker and thicker as you go down; the planets basically consist mainly of atmosphere, though those planets are expected to have a solid core.