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PIP’S STARHAVEN · FIELD NOTES · CHILDREN

Atmospheres: a planet’s surrounding gases

An atmosphere is a layer of gases around a world. Earth’s air becomes thinner as you travel upward.

Most familiar weather happens in the lowest layer. Other planets have different atmospheres, and their air may be unsafe for people.

Wonder about this

If a planet has clouds, can people breathe there?

A science clue

Not necessarily. Its gases and pressure may be very different from Earth’s.