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Planetary geology, alternatively known as astrogeology or exogeology, is a planetary science discipline concerned with the geology of celestial bodies such as planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteorites. Although the geo- prefix typically indicates topics of or relating to Earth, planetary geology is named as such for historical and convenience reasons; due to the types of investigations involved, it is closely linked with Earth-based geology. These investigations are centered around the composition, structure, processes, and history of a celestial body.

Planetary geology includes such topics as determining the properties and processes of the internal structure of the terrestrial planets, and also looks at planetary volcanism and surface processes such as impact craters, fluvial and aeolian processes. The structures and compositions of the giant planets and their moons are also examined, as is the make-up of the minor bodies of the Solar System, such as asteroids, the Kuiper belt, and comets. Planetary geology largely applies concepts within the geosciences to planetary bodies in the broadest sense, and includes applications derived from fields in the geological sciences, such as geophysics and geochemistry.

History of planetary geology

The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this section , discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new section, as appropriate. (January 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Eugene Merle Shoemaker is credited with bringing geologic principles to planetary mapping and creating the branch of planetary science in the early 1960s, the Astrogeology Research Program, within the United States Geological Survey. He made important contributions to the field and the study of impact craters, selenography (study of the Moon), asteroids, and comets.

Today, many institutions are concerned with the study and communication of planetary sciences and planetary geology. The Visitor Center at Barringer Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona includes a museum of planetary geology. The Geological Society of America's Planetary Geology Division has been growing and thriving since May 1981 and has two mottos: "One planet just isn't enough!" and "The GSA Division with the biggest field area!"

Major centers for planetary science research include the Lunar and Planetary Institute, Applied Physics Laboratory, Planetary Science Institute, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute, and Johnson Space Center. Additionally, several universities conduct extensive planetary science research, including Montana State University, Brown University, the University of Arizona, California Institute of Technology, University of Colorado, Western Michigan University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Washington University in St. Louis. Planetary geologists usually study either geology, astronomy, planetary science, geophysics, or one of the earth sciences at the graduate level.

Tools

Simulated interplanetary missions performed on Earth have studied procedures and tools for planetary geology. Various tools, including common archaeological tools such as hammers, shovels, brushes, were evaluated for use by planetary geologists. Along with these common tools, new advanced technologies have become available. These include spectroscopic databases, and data (such as mission logs, images and mapping) from previous unmanned interplanetary missions. Scientists use maps, images, telescopes on Earth, and orbiting telescopes (such as the Hubble Space Telescope). The maps and images are stored in the NASA Planetary Data System where tools such as the Planetary Image Atlas help to search for certain items such as geological features including mountains, ravines, and craters.

Features and terms

Planetary geology uses a wide variety of standardized descriptor names for features. All planetary feature names recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) combine one of these names with a possibly unique identifying name. The conventions which decide the more precise name are dependent on which planetary body the feature is on, but the standard descriptors are in general common to all astronomical planetary bodies. Some names have a long history of historical usage, but new must be recognized by the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature as features are mapped and described by new planetary missions. This means that in some cases, names may change as new imagery becomes available, or in other cases widely adopted informal names changed in line with the rules. The standard names are chosen to consciously avoid interpreting the underlying cause of the feature, but rather to describe only its appearance.

By planet

• Geological features of the Solar System
• Geological history of Earth
• Geology of Mercury
• Geology of Venus
• Geology of the Moon
• Geology of Mars
• Geology of Vesta
• Geology of Ceres
• Geology of Io
• Geology of Titan
• Geology of Triton
• Geology of Pluto
• Geology of Charon

See also

• Astrobiology – Science concerned with life in the universe
• Exoplanet – Planet outside the Solar System
• Exoplanetology
• Planetary habitability – Known extent to which a planet is suitable for life

References

1. James F. III, Bell; Campbell, Bruce A.; Robinson, Mark S. "What is planetary geology?". Cornell University. Archived from the original on Oct 25, 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
2. "GEOL212: Planetary Geology". University of Maryland Department of Geology. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
3. McSween, Harry (11 July 2019). Planetary Geoscience (1 ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 3–19. ISBN 978-1107145382.
4. Chapman, Mary G. "Gene Shoemaker - Founder of Astrogeology". United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
5. Young, Kelsey; Hurtado, José M.; Bleacher, Jacob E.; Brent Garry, W.; Bleisath, Scott; Buffington, Jesse; Rice, James W. (2013-10-01). "Tools and technologies needed for conducting planetary field geology while on EVA: Insights from the 2010 Desert RATS geologist crewmembers". Acta Astronautica. NASA's 2010 Desert Research and Technology Studies Mission Objectives and Results. 90 (2): 332–343. Bibcode:2013AcAau..90..332Y. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.10.016. hdl:2060/20120012887. ISSN 0094-5765. S2CID 85509925.
6. "Planetary Science Tools". PDS Geoscience Node. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
7. "Astrogeology Science Center". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
8. "Cartography and Imaging Sciences Node of NASA Planetary Data System". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
9. ^ "Descriptor Terms (Feature Types)". Planetary Names. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
10. ^ Morton, Oliver. Mapping Mars: science, imagination, and the birth of a world. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2002.
11. "AAS Committee on the Status of Women" (PDF). American Astronomical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
12. Listed pronunciations are conventional or follow the traditional English pronunciation of Latin words. However, some speakers use different (often variable) pronunciations that are closer to the Latin or Greek.

Further reading

• J. F. Bell III; B. A. Campbell; M. S. Robinson (2004). Remote Sensing for the Earth Sciences: Manual of Remote Sensing (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. Archived from the original on Sep 16, 2016. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
• Roberge, Aki (1998-04-21). "The Planets After Formation". Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. Archived from the original on 2006-08-13. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
• Hauber E et al. (2019) Planetary geologic mapping. In: Hargitai H (ed ) Planetary Cartography and GIS. Springer.
• Hargitai H et al. (2015) Classification and Characterization of Planetary Landforms. In: Hargitai H, Kerszturi Á (eds) Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer.
• Rossi, Angelo Pio; Gasselt, Stephan van, eds. (2018). Planetary Geology. Astronomy and Planetary Sciences. Springer International Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-65177-4.

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