Planetary science

Planetary science

The scientific study of planets including Earth, moons, and planetary systems of the Solar System in particular and the processes that form them.

Industry: Astronomy

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Planetary science

magnesium number

Astronomy; Planetary science

The ratio of magnesium to iron, usually reported as the molar ratio Mg/(Mg+Fe), and abbreviated as Mg# or Mg' or Mg*. This value is used commonly to discriminate between lunar rock types.

lunar cataclysm

Astronomy; Planetary science

Term referring to the idea that a sharp increase in impact bombardment rate between about 3. 92 and 3. 85 billion years ago affected the inner Solar System--most notably recorded in the numerous ...

reflectance spectroscopy

Astronomy; Planetary science

The study of light as a function of wavelength that has been reflected or scattered from a solid, liquid, or gas. Also see spectroscopy.

vesta

Astronomy; Planetary science

The brightest of the known asteroids. Also called 4 Vesta because it was the fourth asteroid to be discovered (by Olbers in 1807).

A mostly solid layer of Earth lying beneath the crust and above the core; consisting mostly of iron, magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. On other planets and moons, the mantle is the layer between the ...

subduction

Astronomy; Planetary science

The process describing when one lithospheric plate collides with and is overridden by, or descends under, an adjacent plate.

breccia

Astronomy; Planetary science

Consolidated, fragmental rock consisting of rock, mineral, or glass fragments (also called clasts) embedded in a fine-grained matrix. (See also monomict and polymict. )