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

core

Astronomy; Planetary science

The central region of a planet or moon frequently made of denser materials than the surrounding regions (mantle and crust). Earth and the Moon are thought to have cores of iron and nickel.

celestial equator

Astronomy; Planetary science

An imaginary great circle in the sky drawn concentric to the Earth's equator.

magnitude

Astronomy; Planetary science

Astronomical brightness measured on a logarithmic scale, based on the ancient practice of noting that the brightest stars in the sky were of "first importance" or "first magnitude", the next ...

The plane of a planet's orbit (or other Solar System object) is usually tilted with respect to the plane defined by the Solar System (the ecliptic). These 2 great circles intersect at 2 points. As ...

highland soil

Astronomy; Planetary science

Sediment on the surface of the lunar highlands; composed of broken rock and mineral fragments, and glass produced by impact.

incompatible elements

Astronomy; Planetary science

Elements that are not incorporated into common rock-forming minerals during magma crystallization, hence they become enriched in the residual magma and in the rocks finally formed from it. Examples ...