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

The geologic history of Earth's Moon has been divided into five broad time periods, or systems. From oldest to youngest, these are pre-Nectarian, Nectarian, Imbrian, Eratosthenian, and Copernican. ...

nearside

Astronomy; Planetary science

The side of the Moon that always faces Earth.

Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR)

Astronomy; Planetary science

U. S. Discovery-class mission launched on February 17, 1996. Primary scientific objectives were to return data on the bulk properties, composition, mineralogy, morphology, internal mass distribution, ...

Martian meteorites

Astronomy; Planetary science

Of the 24,000+ meteorites collected on Earth, only 30+ have been identified as meteorites from Mars. They are generally divided into three groups (all with relatively young ages slightly over 1 ...

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Astronomy; Planetary science

A NASA robotic lander (named Curiosity) designed to determine the habitability of Mars. MSL is scheduled to launch in 2011 as part of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program. MSL science goals are ...

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)

Astronomy; Planetary science

NASA orbital mission to Mars launched August, 2005. During its two-year primary science mission, which began in November, 2006, MRO will conduct science investigations with a suite of instruments ...

Mars Orbiter laser altimeter (MOLA)

Astronomy; Planetary science

Instrument onboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft that has been obtaining topographic data since March 1999. MOLA transmits focused infrared laser pulses toward Mars at a rate of ten times per ...