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Tools we now have to figure out planetary composition:


1) Density

  • Pro: If we know volume and mass, we can make material guesstimates from density.

  • Con: Not so good for things made of many materials (e.g. the golf ball).

 

2) Reflectance Spectroscopy

  • Pro: If light is reflecting, we can look at which the spectrum to find what material it's made of.

  • Con: It only tells us what's on the surface...

We need something else to help us probe the interior of mixed material planets...