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

pahoehoe

Astronomy; Planetary science

Basaltic lava with a smooth, billowy, or ropy surface.

silicon

Astronomy; Planetary science

An element with atomic number 14; symbol: Si. Silicon is the most abundant element besides oxygen in planets, and forms the basis for silicate minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase.

dissociation

Astronomy; Planetary science

The splitting apart of a molecule into its consituent atoms. For example, the splitting of carbon monoxide into carbon and oxygen or the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen when struck by ...

The study of spectra. Every atom can only emit or absorb certain energies or wavelengths. Scientists use instruments called spectrometers to study the location and spacing of reflectance, emission, ...

isotopic dating

Astronomy; Planetary science

Technique to determine the age of a rock by measuring the last time the rock being dated was either melted or disturbed sufficiently to rehomogenize its naturally-occurring radioactive elements. This ...

right ascension (RA)

Astronomy; Planetary science

Celestial coordinate which is equivalent to the longitude of an object on Earth. The starting point for longitude on Earth is at Greenwich England, whereas in the celestial coordinate system it is at ...