"Couldn’t the "shore lines," "flood plains," and "riverbeds" of Mars be the result of shock waves from impact meteorites instead of water? "
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Question
Why is the Earth blue and white? Likewise, why is Venus orange-yellow and white?
The colors of Earth and Venus--as well as other planets--are usually attributable to the main components of their surface and atmosphere. The Earth, as you mentioned, is mostly blue and white due to the blue of the sky (reflected by the oceans) and the white of the clouds. Clouds appear white because the water and ice within them scatter the white light of the sun equally. However, the rest of the sky scatters blue light best, and thus the sky appears blue. The orange-yellow white of Venus is likely due to the orange-yellow gases, dust, and clouds present in the atmosphere containing carbon dioxide (the gas that makes soda fizz) and sulfur (a yellowish gas that smells like rotten eggs). To learn more about both planets in detail, please visit the Solar System Exploration website at http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov
March 11, 2002
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